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Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80

Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 Key Specs

Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Launched January 2016
Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Announced January 2017
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ82
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Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 Overview

The following is a complete analysis of the Canon SX540 HS and Panasonic FZ80, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SX540 HS (20MP) and the FZ80 (18MP) is pretty comparable and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX540 HS was brought out 12 months prior to the FZ80 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the SX540 HS scores against the FZ80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Panasonic FZ80

 SX540 HS FZ80 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Canon SX540 HS

 FZ80 SX540 HS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2017January 2016Newer by 12 months
Screen resolution1040k461kSharper screen (+579k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX540 HS and Panasonic FZ80

 SX540 HS FZ80 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX540 HS provides external dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ80 has specifications of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") with a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

See the Canon SX540 HS and Panasonic FZ80 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SX540 HS compared to the FZ80.

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX540 HS and FZ80 is 69 and 63 respectively.

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The pic here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX540 HS and FZ80.

All in all, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Canon SX540 HS to produce extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged SX540 HS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 sensor size comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FZ80 Portrait photography highlights
47
manual focus
decent megapixels (20MP)
supports face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
58
focusing manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Street photography features
Panasonic FZ80 Street photography features
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
54
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than others (616g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Sports photography camera
44
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
very slow continuous shooting (5.9 frames/s)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (205 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
57
great zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX540 HS
Travel photography with Panasonic FZ80
56
decent megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (205 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
59
has touch to focus
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (20mm)
great reach (1200mm)
more heavy than others (616g)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FZ80 Landscape photography highlights
48
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery life (205 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
57
focusing manually
fairly wide (20mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Vlogging advice
Panasonic FZ80 Vlogging advice
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
28
fairly wide (20mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
missing microphone support
more heavy than others (616g)
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Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic FZ80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX540 HS and Panasonic FZ80
 Canon PowerShot SX540 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FZ82
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-01-05 2017-01-04
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 6 Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 49
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.9fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) 14.10 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 442 grams (0.97 pounds) 616 grams (1.36 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 205 photographs 330 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $399 $399