Canon SX740 HS vs Panasonic ZS80: An Expert’s Dive into Small Sensor Superzoom Compact Cameras

Choosing a compact travel companion with an insanely long zoom range can feel like a plunge into the camera jungle. Today, I’m unpacking two popular small sensor superzoom compacts - the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS and the Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 (also known as the TZ95 in some markets). Both were announced in 2018, and while they share many features, the nuances in their designs, performance, and usability make all the difference depending on what type of photographer you are. Having put thousands of images through my testing workflows, and carried these cameras across various shooting scenarios, this detailed comparison is aimed to give you practical clarity - not just specs on paper.

Ready to find out which one deserves a spot in your gear bag? Let’s start with a look at their physical presence - because size does matter, especially for travel and street photography.

Pocketability & Handling: A Tale of Two Smalls

When it comes to small sensor superzooms, the physical footprint is inevitably a compromise between zoom range and handling comfort. The Canon SX740 HS measures 110 x 64 x 40 mm and weighs a svelte 299 grams, whereas the Panasonic ZS80 is slightly bigger and chunkier at 112 x 69 x 42 mm and 327 grams. The difference isn’t huge, but it’s perceptible if you’re used to ultra-compact cameras.

I found the Canon’s slim, rounded edges easier to slip into a jacket pocket without feeling bulgy, which favored spontaneous street shooting. The Panasonic’s added girth provides a slightly deeper grip area that’s more reassuring for longer handheld zoom shots or when using the telephoto-heavy end.

Looking at the top plates, the Canon opts for a classic layout with dedicated mode, zoom, and shutter controls that are tight but intuitive. The Panasonic indulges in a somewhat busier control scheme with a customizable function button, front thumb wheel, and a small but useful electronic viewfinder (EVF) toggle switch.

I personally prefer Panasonic’s control options - especially that well-positioned thumb wheel that makes manual exposure adjustments quicker - but Canon keeps it simple for users who want to focus on point-and-shoot ease without fiddling excessively.

Sensor and Image Quality: Same-Sized Silicon, Different Color Science

Both cameras employ the ever-common 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensors measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, with an imaging area of roughly 28.07 mm², but with subtle differences that crept into image characteristics.

The Canon cranks out 20.3 effective megapixels vs Panasonic’s 20, essentially neck and neck. The Canon uses Canon’s tried-and-true DIGIC 8 processor while Panasonic harnesses their Venus Engine processor, which brings some nuanced differences to noise handling and color rendition.

Real-world testing revealed both cameras offer respectable daylight image quality with vivid colors and decent detail considering the sensor size. But post-processing and noise reduction algorithms set them apart:

• Canon SX740 HS images display slightly softer detail at maximum zoom, which means images look smoother but may feel less crisp - ideal for casual sharing or print up to A3 without pixel peeping.
• Panasonic ZS80 tends toward slightly sharper images with more aggressive contrast, which can make subjects pop but sometimes introduces unpleasant noise at higher ISOs.

One other notable distinction: Panasonic offers RAW file capture, giving enthusiasts and pros more freedom in post-production. Canon, unfortunately, only handles JPEGs, limiting flexibility. For photographers passionate about dialing in white balance and recovering shadows/highlights, this is a considerable edge.

Screen and Viewfinder: To EVF or Not To EVF

Both the Canon and Panasonic have a 3-inch tilting rear LCD screen, but there’s a subtle difference that can affect shooting comfort and creative angles.

The Canon SX740 HS sports a 922k-dot resolution in a non-touch tilting screen with an articulation range suitable for low and high-angle shots. In contrast, the Panasonic ZS80 offers a 1040k-dot screen with touchscreen capabilities - a clear win if navigating menus or framing with touchfocus appeals.

Additionally, Panasonic integrates a 2.33-million-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.53x magnification, providing a proper eye-level framing option which is exceedingly useful outdoors under bright sunlight or for tracking fast-moving subjects.

Canon skips the EVF entirely - its reliance on the LCD only can be limiting in high glare conditions, which is frustrating on sunny hikes or city street shoots.

From my experience, an EVF in this class is a luxury but a substantial usability boost, especially for photography in bright environments or when precision framing matters. If you’re someone who squints at LCDs in the sun or frequently shoots outdoors, the Panasonic’s ZS80 now has a leg up here.

Autofocus and Speed: Catching the Moment

Both cameras offer fast contrast-detection autofocus systems and claim face detection, continuous AF, and tracking capabilities. Neither has phase detection or specialized animal eye AF systems, which isn’t surprising at this price and sensor size.

In practical terms, both cameras lock focus quickly in good light with rare hunting. However, I noted the Canon’s AF was a touch quicker in daylight due to the DIGIC 8’s efficient processing pipeline. The Panasonic’s autofocus proved more precise at close distances, especially in macro mode, thanks to added focus stacking and bracketing modes.

Both cameras achieve a 10 fps continuous shooting speed. However, buffer depth and autofocus tracking during burst shooting favor the Panasonic, enabling longer continuous bursts before slowdown.

If your photography leans towards wildlife or sports where timing multiple sequential frames matters, Panasonic’s autofocus tracking and buffer advantage give it a slight performance edge.

Lens and Zoom: How Far Can You Go?

The hallmark feature in these cameras is their superzoom lenses covering wide-to-telephoto focal lengths on tiny sensors.

• Canon SX740 HS offers an astonishing 24-960 mm equivalent zoom (40x optical), f/3.3 to f/6.9 maximum aperture.
• Panasonic ZS80 features a 24-720 mm equivalent zoom (30x optical), slightly brighter at f/3.3 to f/6.4.

Canon SX740 HS front Canon SX740 HS screen back Panasonic ZS80 front Panasonic ZS80 screen back

While the Canon’s 40x zoom is tempting, zooming beyond 600-700 mm equivalents on such small sensors results in noticeable softness, chromatic aberrations, and light falloff. The Panasonic’s slightly shorter zoom range delivers steadier results with sharper images even at full telephoto.

Both lenses have respectable in-lens optical image stabilization which proves invaluable given the weak light conditions or at extreme telephoto reaches, where handshake is amplified. Canon’s lens stabilization works well but can sometimes struggle just a bit more in the super-telephoto end during low-light handheld captures.

Macro performance is interesting: Canon boasts a 1 cm minimum focus distance, offering impressive close-ups, while Panasonic’s minimum macro distance is 3 cm but compensated with focus bracketing and focus stacking capabilities, which I found useful to extend depth of field creatively in macro scenarios.

Build, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera is weather sealed, shockproof, or freezeproof - typical for this category. Both rely on compact, compact plastic bodies with minimal ruggedization.

Build quality is solid, but users should treat these cameras like precious electronics rather than outdoor action gear. If you’re a landscape or travel photographer heading into unpredictable weather, I recommend investing in rain covers or protective cases.

The Canon’s lighter weight leans toward casual use and street shooting, whereas Panasonic’s bulkier form feels a bit more robust and ergonomic for extended shoots.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life is a critical consideration for travel and event shooters.

• Canon SX740 HS offers about 265 shots per charge.
• Panasonic ZS80 significantly improves here with 380 shots per charge.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I cards with a single slot, but the Panasonic supports UHS-I at a faster transfer rate, handy for video and continuous burst writing speed.

The Panasonic’s longer battery life stood out on multi-day trips where charging opportunities were scarce.

Video Capabilities: 4K to Your Fingertips

These cameras aren’t just stills machines: they also deliver 4K UHD video at 30p.

• Both offer 3840x2160 30fps video recording in H.264 codec.
• Panasonic ZS80 adds 4K Photo mode, allowing you to grab high-res stills from 4K footage - a bonus for capturing the decisive moment without full continuous shooting.
• Canon lacks RAW support for stills but can record the same 4K video.

Neither camera has external microphone jacks or headphone ports, which limits audio control for serious videographers, but both have built-in stereo microphones.

Panasonic’s touchscreen makes menu navigation and focus adjustments easier during video shoots, which I appreciate when trying to stay nimble.

Connectivity and Sharing

Wireless sharing is a given in this segment.

• Both cameras have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
• Canon supports NFC, making quick pairing with compatible phones handy.
• Panasonic excludes NFC but offers a more polished mobile app experience with seamless image transfers.

USB 2.0 ports on both cameras restrict rapid file transfer speeds, somewhat aging compared to newer USB-C options - but understandable given their release era.

Pricing and Value Proposition

At time of review, the Canon SX740 HS lists around $400, versus Panasonic ZS80 hovering near $450. This slight premium on Panasonic buys you:

• Touchscreen with EVF
• RAW photo capture + focus bracketing/stacking
• Longer battery life
• 4K Photo mode

The Canon’s main selling point remains its extended 40x zoom reach and simpler, compact form factor.

Zooming Out: How Do These Cameras Perform Across Photography Genres?

Here’s a quick digest with my scoring overview based on personal experience balanced with technical evaluation.

Portraits:

• Panasonic’s RAW and touch AF gives more control for skin tones and eye detection - edge to ZS80.
• Canon’s smoother optics and slightly warmer colors favor non-critical snaps.

Landscapes:

• Both manage with acceptable dynamic range; Panasonic’s exposure bracketing is helpful here, giving it a slight advantage.
• Neither features weather sealing - consider that for serious outdoor work.

Wildlife:

• Canon’s longer zoom is alluring but image softness at fully zoomed telephoto limits quality.
• Panasonic's AF tracking and burst buffer better serve moving subjects despite shorter zoom.

Sports:

• Similar continuous shooting speeds (10 fps), but Panasonic’s tracking autofocus and buffer depth give it subtle superiority.

Street:

• Canon’s size wins for discretion; Panasonic is a bit bulkier but offers EVF for eye-level shooting in bright light.

Macro:

• Panasonic’s focus stacking capabilities give creative control unmatched by Canon, despite Canon’s closer focusing distance.

Night / Astro:

• Both struggle somewhat due to sensor size but Panasonic’s RAW and higher boosted ISO performance (up to 6400 vs Canon’s 3200) favors noisier scenarios.

Video:

• Panasonic is the clear winner with 4K Photo and touchscreen ease. Canon offers competent 4K recording but lacks video-centric conveniences.

Travel:

• Both cameras shine with their zoom ranges and compact bodies, but Panasonic’s better battery life and EVF are travel advantages.

Professional Use:

• Neither replaces a DSLR or mirrorless for pro workflows, but Panasonic’s RAW support and bracketing make it more adaptable as a fallback or casual pro tool.

Final Verdict: Which Compact Superzoom Should You Choose?

Both Canon SX740 HS and Panasonic ZS80 pack solid superzoom capabilities into pocketable bodies, appealing to enthusiasts craving flexibility on the go. They share many fundamentals but diverge enough that your choice should hinge on what matters most in your photography.

Choose the Canon SX740 HS if:

• You want the longest possible zoom range (40x) for distant subjects or casual snaps.
• Pocketability and lightweight travel priorities top your list.
• You prefer straightforward operation with solid automatic modes and aren’t fussed about RAW capabilities.
• Video is secondary or you’re happy with good 4K recording and no touch screen.

Choose the Panasonic ZS80 if:

• You value an electronic viewfinder for bright conditions and precision framing.
• RAW shooting, focus bracketing, and creative macro capabilities attract you.
• You want longer battery life for extended day trips.
• Enhanced video features like 4K Photo mode and touch interface smooth your workflow.
• You’re willing to trade a bit of bulk for extra control and image quality nuances.

Parting Thoughts: The Real-World Camera Test Hacks

If you want to get the most from either body, here are some tips from my field tests:

• Stabilize at full zoom: Use a monopod or brace yourself; even the best optical IS can’t defeat physics at 960 mm.
• Shoot RAW on Panasonic: Exploit RAW to fine-tune white balance and noise in post.
• Leverage focus bracketing on Panasonic for macro: Get sharper images by stacking multiple shots - invaluable for product or flora shots.
• Practice EVF framing on bright days: Panasonic’s EVF won’t replace a proper mirrorless, but it’s a game-changer for sunny street scenes.
• Don’t expect miracles in low light: Both cameras have small sensors - use them in good to moderate light for best images.

In conclusion, between these two compact superzoom champs, the Panasonic ZS80 edges ahead in usability and features for enthusiasts craving creative control, while the Canon SX740 HS remains a tempting, nimble zoom beast for those prioritizing simplicity and reach. Either way, you’re investing in versatile pocket-sized zoom magic - but now you know which one aligns to your photographic passions.

Happy shooting! ????