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Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Revealed January 2016
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Replacement is Panasonic LZ30
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Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Canon SX540 HS versus Panasonic LZ20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the SX540 HS (20MP) and LZ20 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX540 HS was manufactured 3 years after the LZ20 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SX540 HS scores vs the LZ20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Panasonic LZ20

 SX540 HS LZ20 
ReleasedJanuary 2016July 2012Newer by 43 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen resolution461k460kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Canon SX540 HS

 LZ20 SX540 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX540 HS and Panasonic LZ20

 SX540 HS LZ20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX540 HS offers outside dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ20 has dimensions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX540 HS versus Panasonic LZ20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the SX540 HS versus the LZ20.

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX540 HS and LZ20 is 69 and 71 respectively.

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by going over technical specs. The pic underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX540 HS and LZ20.

As you have seen, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX540 HS to deliver greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The newer SX540 HS is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography info
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography info
47
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
37
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Street photography camera
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
45
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than others (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX540 HS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Sports photography camera
44
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
max frames per second very slow (5.9 frames/s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (205 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
47
amazing zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery pack (380 per charge)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Travel photography info
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography info
56
good megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (205 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
58
great battery pack (380 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (525mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (499g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX540 HS
Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ20
48
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery pack (205 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
45
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
great battery pack (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX540 HS Vlogging details
Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging details
29
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
25
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic support
heavier than others (499 grams)
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Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX540 HS and Panasonic LZ20
 Canon PowerShot SX540 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-01-05 2012-07-18
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 6 -
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 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus distance 0cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.9 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m (at Auto ISO) 6.80 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720p ( 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 support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442g (0.97 pounds) 499g (1.10 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 205 photos 380 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $399 $250