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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
30
Overall
32

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Canon SX520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.4-6.0) lens
  • 441g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Introduced July 2014
  • Succeeded the Canon SX510 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX530 HS
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the SX520 HS (16MP) and ZS5 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was brought out 4 years after the ZS5 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SX520 HS grades versus the ZS5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Panasonic ZS5

 SX520 HS ZS5 
RevealedJuly 2014June 2010More modern by 51 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Canon SX520 HS

 ZS5 SX520 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic ZS5

 SX520 HS ZS5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX520 HS offers outside measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS5 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check the Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the SX520 HS against the ZS5.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX520 HS and ZS5 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specs. The pic below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX520 HS and ZS5.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Canon SX520 HS to deliver greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher SX520 HS provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Portrait photography camera
44
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
27
comes with face detect autofocus
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography info
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography info
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (214g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography details
45
long zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery (210 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX520 HS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS5
55
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery (210 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
63
lighter than average in class (214g)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography factors
45
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery (210 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
32
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging factors
29
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (214g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic jack
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Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic ZS5
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2014-07-29 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4+ Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance 0cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441 grams (0.97 lb) 214 grams (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 210 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $219 $300