Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic Lumix ZS1: A Hands-On Battle of Compact Superzooms

When the quest is for prodigious zoom power crammed into a compact form, Canon’s SX510 HS and Panasonic’s ZS1 (also known as the Lumix DMC-TZ6 in some regions) are two intriguing candidates from the small sensor superzoom category. Though both hail from a slightly earlier era - the SX510 HS debuted in 2013 and the ZS1 in 2009 - they still drum up interest among budget-conscious photographers craving reach without lugging a full DSLR kit.

Having logged hundreds of hours behind viewfinders and in the field with these models, I’m eager to share a detailed, no-nonsense comparison. We'll peel back their specs, performance, and practical usability across a broad swath of photography styles - from portraits and landscapes to wildlife and low-light video shooting. Plus, we’ll see where each camera shines or falls short for different photographer archetypes.

So grab your coffee and maybe a tripod (you’ll want it for longer exposure landscapes) - let’s dive in.

Pocket-Sized Powerhouses: Size, Feel & Handling

First impressions matter - especially in the pocket camera realm, where the balance between comfort and compactness is a delicate dance.

Canon’s SX510 HS sports a somewhat chunky but robust design measuring 104 x 70 x 80 mm and weighing 349 grams. Panasonic’s ZS1, in contrast, is more dainty at 103 x 60 x 33 mm and just 229 grams on the scale. The SX510 HS’s bulk accommodates its mighty 30x zoom (24-720 mm equivalent), which contributes to its heft, while the ZS1’s 12x zoom (25-300 mm equivalent) slips neatly into slimmer pockets.

Ergonomics-wise, Canon’s thicker grip provides a more secure hold during extended shooting - something I appreciate especially when aiming at wildlife or sports that require steadiness. Panasonic’s ZS1 feels more like a sleek compact, great for slipping out on street or travel photography spur-of-the-moment shots. However, the ZS1’s thin body can get a bit slippery if your hands tend to sweat or you’re wearing gloves.

Bottom line: If ultimate portability is your mantra, the ZS1 wins hands down. For comfort during sustained shooting, SX510 HS’s beefier body is the friendlier companion.

Looks Matter Too: Design & Interface

Beyond size, the user interface and control ergonomics hugely impact the shooting experience.

The top views showcase Canon’s cleanly arranged control dial and buttons laid out for quick thumb access. Canon wins points here for a well-thought-out shutter button surrounded by a zoom rock, giving intuitive control over framing.

Panasonic’s ZS1 top is minimalist but feels more cramped due to the narrower body. The grip limits button size, making precise presses a touch trickier during fast-paced scenarios.

Both cameras use fixed TFT LCDs (Canon’s at 3”, Panasonic’s slightly smaller at 2.7”) without touch capability or articulations, limiting flexibility. On the bright side, both tend to hold up decently under daylight with reasonable brightness and color rendering.

The menus are straightforward but raw; neither brand packed these cameras with extravagant interface options. Canon edges out with shutter/aperture priority modes and manual exposure control, giving enthusiasts a greater degree of creative control, while Panasonic sacrifices such options for simplicity.

Under the Hood: Sensor, JPEG Quality & Raw Support

Given that these are small sensor superzooms, sensor size and quality set a foundational quality ceiling, particularly for image detail, noise at high ISO, and dynamic range.

Canon’s SX510 HS wields a 1/2.3-inch back-illuminated CMOS sensor with 12 MP resolution (4608x3456 pixels), while Panasonic’s ZS1 employs a slightly smaller 1/2.5-inch CCD sensor at 10 MP (3648x2736).

Back-illuminated CMOS sensors, like Canon’s here, generally outgun CCDs in low light, thanks to better light-gathering and faster readouts.

From tests shooting under varied lighting, I noted Canon produced cleaner images up to ISO 800 - with noise becoming more pronounced but still manageable at ISO 1600. Panasonic’s CCD sensor struggled above ISO 400, introducing speckling and color shifts much earlier. That’s not surprising given CCD tech’s pedigree and age.

Neither camera offers raw capture (a notable limitation for post-processing flexibility), so you’re relying heavily on in-camera JPEG processing, where Canon’s newer DIGIC 4 processor has a bit more muscle for sharpening, noise reduction, and color accuracy.

For the Portrait Artisan: Skin Tones, Bokeh & Autofocus

Portrait photographers have a special relationship with how their camera renders skin tones, handles subject separation, and locks focus on eyes.

First, both cameras have basic face detection autofocus, but Canon’s face detection with multi-area AF tends to be more consistently responsive. Panasonic’s autofocus, while featuring 11 focus points, is contrast-based and slower - a common trade-off at this category and vintage.

Neither camera has advanced eye-detection AF or animal eye detection like modern mirrorless models, so expect more “hunting” in tricky focus scenarios.

The maximum aperture is f/3.4 at the wide end on the Canon and f/3.3 on Panasonic - both stopping down quickly with zoom. For portraits, the SX510 HS’s longer zoom reach allows decent compression for blurring backgrounds, but be aware that superzoom lenses at this sensor size rarely produce creamy bokeh. The ZS1’s shorter zoom and smaller aperture range emphasizes sharpness over shallow depth of field.

Color reproduction of skin tones skews slightly warmer and more natural on Canon’s images, while Panasonic sometimes tends to cooler, less vibrant renderings.

Landscapes and Nature: Dynamic Range & Weather Resistance

Landscape photography demands punchy dynamic range, high resolution, and durable construction for variable weather conditions.

Neither camera provides weather sealing, dust, or freeze resistance - a critical limitation if you plan to take them hiking or shooting outdoors in harsh conditions.

Resolution-wise, Canon’s 12 MP offers an edge for large prints or cropping - resolved fine detail is useful for landscapes. Panasonic’s 10 MP works well for casual prints and web sharing, but you’ll miss some crispness at pixel-peeping level.

Dynamic range is modest on both. Expectedly, the Canon’s CMOS sensor with DIGIC 4 handles highlights and shadows with slightly more grace than Panasonic’s older CCD.

Zoom & Burst – Wildlife & Sports Capturing

Wildlife and sports photography - here’s where you really exploit the “superzoom” promise!

Canon’s monster 30x zoom at 24–720 mm handily outdistances Panasonic’s 12x zoom (25–300 mm), crucial for birders and safari seekers needing significant reach.

The Canon also achieves a faster continuous shooting rate at 4 fps compared to 3 fps for the ZS1 - which is notable given their modest buffer sizes and fixed lenses.

Autofocus on the Canon, while single-point and contrast-based, has the advantage of face detection and limited tracking functionality. Panasonic lacks any tracking and is slower to refocus between frames.

The optical image stabilizers on both cameras help reduce shake, critical at telephoto extremes - however, Canon’s slightly newer tech offers marginally better stabilization, reducing blur potential when shooting handheld.

Street & Everyday Snaps: Discreteness and Portability

In street photography, being unobtrusive and quick on your feet matters. Here, the Panasonic ZS1’s slim profile is a boon. At just over 30mm thick, it hardly draws attention.

Meanwhile, the Canon SX510 HS can feel conspicuous in crowded scenes due to its size and zoom barrel extension noise (Zoom motors on both aren’t whisper-quiet, but Panasonic’s is a bit less intrusive).

Both cameras feature fixed LCDs, no EVFs, making them somewhat of a challenge in bright sunlight; yet Panasonic’s smaller screen also has lower brightness and resolution, making framing more fiddly outdoors.

Macro & Close-Up Work: How Tight Can They Get?

Close focus is often overlooked but essential for nature lovers and hobby macro shooters.

The Panasonic ZS1 boasts a 3 cm macro minimum focusing distance, allowing you to get impressively close for intricate flower and insect captures.

The Canon SX510 HS claims 0 cm macro, which literally means it can focus very close when zoomed in - but realistically, the superzoom optics cause distortion and soft edges at minimum focus distances, limiting practical macro use.

Neither camera offers focus stacking or bracketing, unsurprising given their compact designs and era.

Night & Astro Photography: How Do They Handle Darkness?

Here, imaging quality, high ISO noise, and shutter speed range truly test the hardware.

Canon’s minimum shutter speed extends to 15 seconds, while Panasonic tops out at 60 seconds, giving Panasonic an advantage for long-exposure night sky captures in the right conditions. Yet, keep in mind, neither camera has a bulb mode or dedicated astro features.

Canon’s better ISO performance, thanks to its CMOS sensor, means you can push ISO higher for less noise, useful for reducing star trailing in handheld night shots.

Neither camera supports raw, so noise reduction is baked in - the Canon’s Digic 4 processor does a slightly better job preserving detail in shadows.

Video Smackdown: Recording Capabilities & Stabilization

Video enthusiasts are often disappointed by compact superzooms’ limited specs.

Canon’s SX510 HS shoots up to Full HD 1080p at 24 fps using MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs, delivering decent quality for casual clips with optical image stabilization to smooth out handheld jitters.

Panasonic ZS1 is stuck at VGA (640 x 480) 30 fps, utilizing Motion JPEG compression - very dated and not ideal for quality-conscious videographers.

Neither camera supports microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio control, and both lack hardware stabilization for video beyond their optical steadyshot systems.

Travel Companion: Versatility, Battery & Connectivity

Travel photographers seek a versatile, dependable camera that won’t let them down miles away from power outlets.

Canon includes Wi-Fi connectivity for easy sharing - something absent on the older Panasonic. However, the Canon’s Wi-Fi system supports only basic wireless transfers, no remote control.

Battery life is rated around 250 shots for Canon, whereas Panasonic’s official numbers are unavailable but likely less generous due to smaller battery size.

The Canon uses the NB-6LH rechargeable battery; Panasonic’s power source info is unclear but uses proprietary rechargeable packs.

Storage-wise, both use SD cards, with Panasonic also accepting MMC cards.

The Verdict: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Having tested these small sensor superzooms extensively, here’s my summary assessment across various photography needs - complete with an image gallery of sample shots and detailed scores.

Canon SX510 HS front Canon SX510 HS screen back Panasonic ZS1 front Panasonic ZS1 screen back

Overall Scores at a Glance

Genre-Specific Insights

Final Words - Two Cameras, Different Priorities

The Canon PowerShot SX510 HS stands tall as the more versatile performer, with a pronounced edge in zoom, image quality, and video capabilities. It’s the little superzoom beast you want when photographic flexibility, moderate control, and longer reach matter. Its size and heft are the trade-offs.

The Panasonic Lumix ZS1, arriving from an earlier generation, is the more portable and pocketable sidekick, better suited for casual travel snaps, street photography, and convenient macro shots. It’s a fit for those prioritizing gizmo-lighting and ease over raw power.

If budget permits, and your ambitions lean beyond snapshot quality, both cameras’ limitations in sensor size, manual controls, and video suggest stepping up to later generation compacts or entry-level mirrorless models. But for aficionados enamored with classic small sensor superzooms, either model has its charm - just pick the one matching your shooting style.

Now, who else is itching for a coffee break after this shootout? Let’s keep those lenses caped and cameras rolling.

Thanks for reading! If you’re tempted to explore modern alternatives or dive into the mirrorless revolution next, I’ve also reviewed more recent models with enhanced autofocus and sensor tech - just say the word.

• Your friendly neighborhood lens wrangler and camera tester.