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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 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
  • Released August 2012
  • Later Model is Canon SX510 HS
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZS5, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and ZS5 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was brought out 2 years later than the ZS5 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the SX500 IS grades vs the ZS5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

				

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic ZS5

 SX500 IS ZS5 
LaunchedAugust 2012June 2010Fresher by 27 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Canon SX500 IS

 ZS5 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZS5

 SX500 IS ZS5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX500 IS has got exterior measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZS5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the ZS5.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and ZS5 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor sizing just by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and ZS5.

As you can see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Canon SX500 IS to show more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The newer SX500 IS will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography advice
46
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/1,600s)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
27
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (214 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
44
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (195 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography details
59
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery life (195 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
63
lighter than average (214 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Landscape photography camera
46
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery life (195 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
33
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
31
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
lighter than average (214g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
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Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Panasonic ZS5
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-08-21 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 1 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lb) 214 grams (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 195 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $299 $300