Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5
80 Imaging
39 Features
40 Overall
39


92 Imaging
35 Features
30 Overall
33
Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs
(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
(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

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").

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.

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5. The entire galleries are provided at Canon SX500 IS Gallery and Panasonic ZS5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Panasonic ZS5
SX500 IS | ZS5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | August 2012 | ![]() | June 2010 | Fresher by 27 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 461k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper 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 type | Fixed | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS | Panasonic 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 |