Both Canon SX50 HS and Panasonic ZS50 have 12.0 MP resolution sensors but Canon SX50 HS's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) and Panasonic ZS50's sensor is
Since Panasonic ZS50's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Canon SX50 HS.
Below you can see the SX50 HS and ZS50 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX50 HS and Panasonic ZS50 Cameras
Canon SX50 HS and Panasonic ZS50 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Canon SX50 HS and Panasonic ZS50 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, SX50 HS has scored 47, 3 points higher than ZS50.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Canon SX50 HS
47
20.3 bits
11.2 Evs
179 ISO
Panasonic ZS50
44
20.0 bits
11.2 Evs
138 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Canon SX50 HS
or the
Panasonic ZS50 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(1/2.3-inch versus ),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
