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Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
89
Imaging
46
Features
51
Overall
48
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
29
Overall
35

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Canon SX720 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
  • 270g - 110 x 64 x 36mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Replaced the Canon SX710 HS
  • New Model is Canon SX730 HS
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
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Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX720 HS (20.3MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX720 HS was launched 3 years after the SZ3 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SX720 HS scores versus the SZ3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX720 HS over the Panasonic SZ3

 SX720 HS SZ3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016January 2013Newer by 38 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Canon SX720 HS

 SZ3 SX720 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX720 HS and Panasonic SZ3

 SX720 HS SZ3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX720 HS enjoys external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SX720 HS against the SZ3.

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX720 HS and SZ3 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at technical specs. The image underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX720 HS and SZ3.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Canon SX720 HS to resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 4.3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The newer SX720 HS is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX720 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
47
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20.3 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
30
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX720 HS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Street photography camera
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (270 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX720 HS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
48
long zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20.3MP)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.9 frames per second)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (250 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography factors
67
lighter than average (270 grams)
megapixel count decent (20.3 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (960mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (250 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
71
lighter than average (126 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography info
50
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20.3MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery pack (250 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
38
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging information
34
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (270 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
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Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX720 HS and Panasonic SZ3
 Canon PowerShot SX720 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX720 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-02-18 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20.3 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-960mm (40.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.9 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 270g (0.60 pounds) 126g (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 250 pictures 250 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-13L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $379 $150