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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
80 Imaging
40 Features
40 Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92 Imaging
38 Features
46 Overall
41

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Renewed by Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly similar and both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was unveiled 4 months later than the ZS20 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SX500 IS grades versus the ZS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic ZS20

		

		

			
 SX500 IS ZS20 
Manually focus  Very precise focus
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Canon SX500 IS

		

		

			
 ZS20 SX500 IS 
Touch friendly display  Easily navigate
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZS20

		

		

			
 SX500 IS ZS20 
LaunchedAugust 2012April 2012Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen  Neither contains selfie screen
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX500 IS has got external 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 ZS20 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).
Look at the Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the SX500 IS vs the ZS20.
Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX500 IS and ZS20 is 80 and 92 respectively.
Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Quite often, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX500 IS and ZS20.
Clearly, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Canon SX500 IS to offer you extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively.
	
			Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography highlights
46
 manual focus
 great flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 provides face detect focus
 cannot use external flash
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
30
 good megapixels (14 megapixels)
 no manual focus
 can't use external flash
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
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Street Comparison
 Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
 Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
51
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 fixed screen
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
65
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 comes with focus via touch
 lighter than competition (206g)
 screen does not articulate
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
Photography Glossary
Sports Comparison
 Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
 Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
45
 amazing zoom range (24-720mm  30.0 x zoom)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (16MP)
 provides tracking focus
 continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 bad battery life (195 per charge)
 lack of phase detect auto focus
47
 amazing zoom range (24-480mm  20.0 x zoom)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 good megapixels (14 megapixels)
 supports tracking focus
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 low battery power (260 per charge)
 no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Travel photography with Canon SX500 IS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
60
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 flash built-in
 relatively wide (24mm)
 long reach (720mm)
 missing Time Lapse mode
 bad battery life (195 CIPA)
 display is not selfie friendly
 sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
68
 lighter than competition (206g)
 comes with focus via touch
 good megapixels (14MP)
 built-in flash
 quite wide (24mm)
 very long zoom (480mm)
 lack of Time Lapse recording
 low battery power (260 shots)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography highlights
46
 manual focus
 relatively wide (24mm)
 nice screen size (3")
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
 sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
 bad battery life (195 CIPA)
 missing Time Lapse mode
42
 quite wide (24mm)
 pretty good screen size (3")
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 good megapixels (14MP)
 no manual focus
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
 low battery power (260 CIPA)
 lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison
 Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
 Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
28
 relatively wide (24mm)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 provides face detect focus
 sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
 display is not selfie friendly
 low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
 missing mic port
34
 quite wide (24mm)
 built-in touchscreen
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 lighter than competition (206 grams)
 slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 lack of mic support
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZS20
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-08-21 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format    
Autofocusing
Manual focus    
Autofocus touch    
Autofocus continuous    
Single autofocus    
Autofocus tracking    
Autofocus selectice    
Center weighted autofocus    
Multi area autofocus    
Live view autofocus    
Face detect autofocus    
Contract detect autofocus    
Phase detect autofocus    
Number of focus points 1 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch friendly    
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash range 5.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Highest flash synchronize 1/1600 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment    
Average    
Spot    
Partial    
AF area    
Center weighted    
Video features
Supported 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), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support    
Headphone support    
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 341 gr (0.75 lb) 206 gr (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 260 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting    
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $299 $349