Panasonic SZ1 has a
16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Canon SD780 IS has a
12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .
Below you can see the SZ1 and SD780 IS sensor size comparison.
Panasonic SZ1 and Canon SD780 IS have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.