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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Successor is Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS20
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was announced 2 months after the ZS15 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SX500 IS scores versus the ZS15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic ZS15

 SX500 IS ZS15 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Canon SX500 IS

 ZS15 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZS15

 SX500 IS ZS15 
LaunchedAugust 2012June 2012Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX500 IS offers physical dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the ZS15.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and ZS15 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions only by researching specifications. The pic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and ZS15.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to render extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs far more aggressively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography features
46
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/1,600 seconds)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
21
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Street photography camera
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (208 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography details
45
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (195 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
36
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
60
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery power (195 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
61
lighter than competition in class (208g)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery life (260 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography details
46
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery power (195 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
37
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery life (260 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
33
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (208g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZS15
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-08-21 2012-06-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 1 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341g (0.75 lbs) 208g (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 195 shots 260 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $299 $279