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Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
89
Imaging
46
Features
51
Overall
48
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Canon SX720 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
  • 270g - 110 x 64 x 36mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Replaced the Canon SX710 HS
  • Renewed by Canon SX730 HS
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS25
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Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the SX720 HS (20.3MP) and ZS20 (14MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX720 HS was revealed 3 years after the ZS20 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SX720 HS matches up versus the ZS20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX720 HS over the Panasonic ZS20

 SX720 HS ZS20 
LaunchedFebruary 2016April 2012Newer by 47 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Canon SX720 HS

 ZS20 SX720 HS 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX720 HS and Panasonic ZS20

 SX720 HS ZS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX720 HS has got physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX720 HS vs the ZS20.

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX720 HS and ZS20 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX720 HS and ZS20.

Clearly, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Canon SX720 HS to offer you extra detail because of its extra 6.3MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SX720 HS will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography factors
47
you can focus manually
MP count good (20.3MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
30
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography advice
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (270g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography info
48
excellent zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20.3 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (5.9 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (250 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
47
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (260 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than others in class (270 grams)
MP count good (20.3MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (960mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery (250 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
68
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
boasts touch to focus
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography info
50
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20.3 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery (250 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
42
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery power (260 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX720 HS Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging advice
34
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (270 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
34
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
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Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX720 HS and Panasonic ZS20
 Canon PowerShot SX720 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX720 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-02-18 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-960mm (40.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 922k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.9 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 270 gr (0.60 lb) 206 gr (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 250 pictures 260 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-13L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $379 $349