Panasonic ZS1 vs Canon SX120 IS Comparison

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Panasonic ZS1

10 MP | 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) CCD Sensor

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Canon SX120 IS

10 MP | 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) CCD Sensor

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Panasonic ZS1 vs Canon SX120 IS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Panasonic and Canon. Panasonic ZS1 was introduced to market in May 2009 and Canon SX120 IS was launched in August 2009. There is only 3 months difference between ZS1 and SX120 IS so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Both Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS cameras have 10.0MP 1/2.5-inch sensors.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-05-14

10MP - 1/2.5-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.7" Fixed Type Screen

3 fps continuous shooting

- 640 x 480 video resolution

229g. 103 x 60 x 33 mm

Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ6

Canon SX120 IS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-08-19

10MP - 1/2.5-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 1600

36-360 mm F2.8-4.3 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

1 fps continuous shooting

- 640 x 480 video resolution

285g. 111 x 71 x 45 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 over Canon PowerShot SX120 IS

Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max ISO	6.400 vs 1.600	300% higher Max ISO
Continuous Shooting	3.0fps vs 1.0fps	2 fps faster
Weight	229 g vs 285 g	56 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide	25mm vs 36mm	11 mm wider coverage
Optical Zoom	12× vs 10×	more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage	5.3m vs 3.0m	2.3m longer range

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX120 IS over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1

LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.7"	0.3 inches larger display
Max Mech. Shutter	1/2500s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Manual Exposure	Yes vs No	better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele	360mm vs 300mm	60 mm longer tele reach
Max Aperture - Wide	2.80 vs 3.30	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	4.30 vs 4.90	faster lens at tele

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 and Canon PowerShot SX120 IS

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Focal Length - Tele	300mm vs 360mm	Very good Telezoom

Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 and Canon PowerShot SX120 IS

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
Max Resolution	10 MP vs 10 MP	Less details and smaller prints
LCD Screen Resolution	230k dots vs 230k dots	Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Panasonic ZS1 vs Canon SX120 IS: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic ZS1 has external dimensions of 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.06 x 2.36 x 1.3″) and weighs 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz) (including batteries). Canon SX120 IS has external dimensions of 111 x 71 x 45 mm (4.37 x 2.8 x 1.77″) and weighs 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS. Panasonic ZS1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 8mm narrower, 11mm shorter and 12mm thinner than Canon SX120 IS.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic ZS1 is significantly lighter (56g ) than the Canon SX120 IS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS1

SX120 IS

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS1

SX120 IS

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 (Lumix DMC-TZ6) nor Canon PowerShot SX120 IS provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon SX120 IS's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic ZS1's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Canon SX120 IS: Sensor Comparison

Both Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS have 1/2.5-inch sized 10.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the ZS1 and SX120 IS sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS Cameras

Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Canon SX120 IS Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 features a 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 12× zoom lens whereas Canon SX120 IS features a 36-360 mm F2.8-4.3 10× zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS1 has 11mm wider coverage than the Canon SX120 IS. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.80, Canon SX120 IS is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Canon SX120 IS has 60mm longer reach than the Panasonic ZS1. At f4.30, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ZS1

SX120 IS

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

ZS1

SX120 IS

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

ZS1

SX120 IS

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

ZS1

SX120 IS

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic ZS1 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon SX120 IS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX120 IS for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon SX120 IS for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
11 Focus Points
300 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
360 mm Tele Lens
Fast Lens at Tele: f4.30
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2500s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Canon SX120 IS for Daily Photography

GOOD

Compact Body
229g
12.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Compact Body
285g
10.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Body Thickness 45mm
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SX120 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic ZS1 vs Canon SX120 IS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic ZS1 and Canon SX120 IS scores compare:

Panasonic ZS1

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #378 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1058 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon SX120 IS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #274 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #890 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon SX120 IS has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic ZS1 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon SX120 IS vs Panasonic ZS1 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1	Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Brand	Panasonic	Canon
Announced	2009-05-14	2009-08-19
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	CCD
Size	1/2.5-inch	1/2.5-inch
Dimensions	5.744 x 4.308 mm	5.744 x 4.308 mm
Area	24.74mm²	24.74mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	10 megapixels
Max Resolution	3648 x 2736	3648 x 2736
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	11	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-300 mm (12×)	36-360 mm (10×)
Max Aperture	F3.3-4.9	F2.8-4.3
Macro Focus Range	3cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	2.7"	3"
Resolution	230k dots	230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/2500s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.30 m (Auto ISO)	3.00 m
Max Flash Sync	n/a	1/500s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	3.0 fps	1.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	640 x 480	640 x 480
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	229g	285g
Dimensions	103 x 60 x 33mm	111 x 71 x 45mm
Battery Life	n/a	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction