Below is a comparison chart of three latest superzoom cameras — the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 and Samsung HZ25W (W5000)– with the Nikon Coolpix P90, introduced in February 2009, thrown in.
Superzoom cameras, especially those that start at 26mm are desirable travel cameras due to the sheer flexibility of the zoom range without the bulk of a DSLR.
Superzoom cameras are not DSLR replacement, however. Camera makers still have a long way to go in terms of producing superzoom cameras with DSLR-like image quality, especially images taken at the long end of the zoom.
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS vs Nikon P90 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 vs Samsung HZ25W (W5000)
| Canon PowerShot SX20 IS | Nikon P90 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 (a.k.a FZ38) | Samsung HZ25W (w5000) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 1/2.3" CCD | 1/2.33" CCD | 1/2.33 CCD | 1/2.33" CCD |
| 12.1 megapixels | 12.1 megapixels | 12.1 megapixels | 12.5 megapixels | |
| Image sizes | 4000 x 3000, 3840 x 2160, 3264 x 2448, 2592 x 1944, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 | 4000 x 3000, 3264 x 2448, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024×768, 640 x 480, 3984 x 2656 (3:2), 3968 x 2232 (16:9), 2992 x 2992 (1:1) | 4:3 Aspect Ratio (4000 x 3000, 3264 x 2448, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480); 3:2 Aspect Ratio (4000 x 2672, 3264 x 2176, 2560 x 1712, 2048 x 1360); 16:9 Aspect Ratio (4000 x 2248, 3264 x 1840, 2560 x 1440, 1920 x 1080) | 4000 x 3000, 3984 x 2656, 3968 x 2232, 3264 x 2448, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1024 x 768 |
| Movie recording | 1280 x 720 at 30fps, 640 x 480 at 30fps, 320 x 240 at 30 fps | 640 x 480 at either 30fps or 15fps; 320 x 480 15fps only | 1280 x 720, | 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 all at 30fps or 15fps |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 80 - 6400 | ISO 64 - 6400 | ISO 80 - 6400 | ISO 80 - 3200; ISO 6400 (3M) |
| File formats | Still: JPEG, Movie: H.264 | JPEG, AVI movie | JPEG, RAW, AVHD Lite movie | JPEG, RAW, H.264 movie |
| Lenses | 20x optical (28 - 580mm), f/2.8 - f/5.7 | 24x optical zoom (26 - 624mm); f/2.8 - f/4.6 | 18x optical zoom (27 - 486mm), f/2.8 - f/4.4 | 24x optical zoom (26 - 624mm), f/2.8 - f/4.6 |
| Digital zoom | Yes, up to 4x | Yes, up to 4x | Yes, up to 4x | Yes, up to 5x |
| Continuous shooting | 0.7fps (Live View); 1fps when LCD screen is off | 1.4fps, 11fps in Sports Continuous (file reduced to 3 megapixels) | 2.3fps; 10fps (3 megapixels) | to be updated |
| Shake Reduction | Lens-shift | Optical | Pens-shift | Optical and digital |
| Shutter speed | 15-1/3200 sec | 8 - 1/2000 sec | 60 - 1/2000 sec, | 8 - 1/2000 sec |
| Exposure modes | Auto, Program AE, Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual, Custom, Portrait, Landscape, Night Snapshot, Sports, SCN, Stitch Assist, Movie | Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, BSS (Best Shot Selector), Movie, Sports Continuous Shot, | Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual, Program Shift(Program AE mode) | Smart Auto, Program, Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, User1, User2, Scene, Portrait, Night |
| Picture/Scene modes | Indoor, Sunset, Night Scene, Fireworks, Beach, Aquarium, Foliage, Snow, ISO 3200, Color Accent, Color Swap | Portrait, Panorama Assist, Close Up, Sunset, Night Landscape, Fireworks Show, Night Portrait, Copy, Beach/Snow, Dusk/Dawn, Museum, Landscape, Back Light, Food, Party | Party, Candle Light, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Hi-Speed Burst, Flash Burst, Panning, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial Photo, Pinhole, Film Grain, High Dynamic(Standard, Art, B&W), Photo Frame, Panorama Assist | Scene Recognition: Portrait, Night Portrait, Night, Backlight Portrait, Backlight, Landscape, White, Macro, Macro Text, Tripod, Action; Scene : Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Text, Close-up, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow |
| Image parameters | My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color) | Color, Sepia, Monochrome | Black & White, Sepia, Cool, Warm | to be updated |
| Hot shoe | Yes | No | No | No |
| AF Assist Lamp | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LDC monitor | 230,000 pixels | 230,000 | 230,000 | 230,000 |
| Special LCD feature | Tilt-and-swivel | Vari-angle LCD screen | N/A | N/A |
| Price | US$399 | US$399 | US$399 | US$399 |
Pingback: Canon PowerShot SX20 IS vs Nikon P90 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 … | Write What