Canon 100D vs Panasonic TZ95

The Canon EOS 100D (called Canon SL1 in some regions) and the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95 (labelled Panasonic ZS80 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in March 2013 and February 2019. The 100D is a DSLR, while the TZ95 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (100D) and a 1/2.3-inch (TZ95) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 17.9 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 20.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 100D		Panasonic TZ95
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Canon EF mount lenses		24-720mm f/3.3-6.4
17.9 MP, APS-C Sensor		20.2 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (100 - 25,600)		ISO 80-3,200 (80 - 6,400)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (2330k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Fixed touchscreen		Tilting touchscreen
4.9 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
380 shots per battery charge		380 shots per battery charge
117 x 91 x 69 mm, 407 g		112 x 69 x 42 mm, 327 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 100D and the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 100D and the Panasonic TZ95 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The 100D can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the TZ95 is also available in two color-versions, but different ones (black, silver).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic TZ95 is notably smaller (27 percent) than the Canon 100D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 100D nor the TZ95 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the TZ95 has a lens built in, whereas the 100D is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the 100D and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

The power pack in the TZ95 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life 1	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch 2	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon 100D	4.6 in	3.6 in	2.7 in	14.4 oz	380	n	Mar 2013	549
	Panasonic TZ95	4.4 in	2.7 in	1.7 in	11.5 oz	380	n	Feb 2019	449
	Canon 4000D	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.0 in	15.4 oz	500	n	Feb 2018	399
	Canon SX740	4.3 in	2.5 in	1.6 in	10.5 oz	265	n	Jul 2018	399
	Canon 200D	4.8 in	3.7 in	2.8 in	16.0 oz	650	n	Jun 2017	549
	Canon 7D II	5.9 in	4.4 in	3.1 in	32.1 oz	670	Y	Sep 2014	1,799
	Canon 1200D	5.1 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	16.9 oz	500	n	Feb 2014	449
	Canon 700D	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	20.5 oz	440	n	Mar 2013	649
	Canon G16	4.3 in	3.0 in	1.6 in	12.6 oz	360	n	Aug 2013	549
	Canon 650D	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	20.3 oz	440	n	Jun 2012	849
	Canon M	4.3 in	2.6 in	1.3 in	10.5 oz	230	n	Jul 2012	599
	Canon 600D	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	20.1 oz	440	n	Feb 2011	599
	Fujifilm XF10	4.4 in	2.5 in	1.6 in	9.8 oz	330	n	Jul 2018	499
	Panasonic FT7	4.6 in	3.0 in	1.5 in	11.3 oz	300	Y	May 2018	449
	Panasonic LX100 II	4.5 in	2.6 in	2.6 in	13.8 oz	300	n	Aug 2018	999
	Panasonic TZ90	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.6 in	11.4 oz	380	n	Apr 2017	449
	Panasonic G6	4.8 in	3.3 in	2.8 in	13.8 oz	340	n	Apr 2013	599
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement.

Camera Model
Canon 100D
Panasonic TZ95
Canon 4000D
Canon SX740
Canon 200D
Canon 7D II
Canon 1200D
Canon 700D
Canon G16
Canon 650D
Canon M
Canon 600D
Fujifilm XF10
Panasonic FT7
Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic TZ90
Panasonic G6

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The TZ95 was launched at a lower price than the 100D, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 100D features an APS-C sensor and the Panasonic TZ95 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the TZ95 is 92 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 5.6. The sensor in the 100D has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the TZ95 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the TZ95 offers a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 17.9 MP of the 100D. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 4.31μm for the 100D). However, it should be noted that the TZ95 is much more recent (by 5 years and 11 months) than the 100D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the TZ95 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The 100D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 100D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95 are ISO 80 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-6400.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Canon 100D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843	63
	Panasonic TZ95	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon 4000D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.4	695	63
	Canon SX740	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon 200D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.4	1041	79
	Canon 7D II	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	11.8	1082	70
	Canon 1200D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
	Canon 700D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	681	61
	Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
	Canon 650D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
	Canon M	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.2	827	65
	Canon 600D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	793	65
	Fujifilm XF10	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	..	..	..	..
	Panasonic FT7	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Panasonic LX100 II	Four Thirds	16.8	4736	3552	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Panasonic TZ90	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	19.1	10.6	106	36
	Panasonic G6	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	21.3	11.5	639	61

Camera Model
Canon 100D
Panasonic TZ95
Canon 4000D
Canon SX740
Canon 200D
Canon 7D II
Canon 1200D
Canon 700D
Canon G16
Canon 650D
Canon M
Canon 600D
Fujifilm XF10
Panasonic FT7
Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic TZ90
Panasonic G6

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the TZ95 provides a better video resolution than the 100D. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the TZ95 has an electronic viewfinder (2330k dots), while the 100D has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the TZ95 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 100D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. On the other hand, the viewfinder of the 100D has a higher magnification (0.54x vs 0.53x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 100D and Panasonic TZ95 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Canon 100D	optical	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9	Y	n
	Panasonic TZ95	2330	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Canon 4000D	optical	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon SX740	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0	Y	Y
	Canon 200D	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
	Canon 7D II	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0	Y	n
	Canon 1200D	optical	n	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon 700D	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
	Canon G16	optical	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2	Y	Y
	Canon 650D	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
	Canon M	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.3	n	n
	Canon 600D	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.7	Y	n
	Fujifilm XF10	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
	Panasonic FT7	1170	n	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/1300s	10.0	Y	Y
	Panasonic LX100 II	2764	n	3.0	1240	fixed	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y
	Panasonic TZ90	1166	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Panasonic G6	1440	n	3.0	1036	swivel	Y	1/4000s	7.0	Y	n

Camera Model
Canon 100D
Panasonic TZ95
Canon 4000D
Canon SX740
Canon 200D
Canon 7D II
Canon 1200D
Canon 700D
Canon G16
Canon 650D
Canon M
Canon 600D
Fujifilm XF10
Panasonic FT7
Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic TZ90
Panasonic G6

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the TZ95 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 100D and the TZ95 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 100D and Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

	Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Canon 100D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Panasonic TZ95	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Canon 4000D	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon SX740	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Canon 200D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon 7D II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
	Canon 1200D	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon 700D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon G16	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Canon 650D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon M	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon 600D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Fujifilm XF10	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Panasonic FT7	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Panasonic LX100 II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Panasonic TZ90	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Panasonic G6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-

Camera Model
Canon 100D
Panasonic TZ95
Canon 4000D
Canon SX740
Canon 200D
Canon 7D II
Canon 1200D
Canon 700D
Canon G16
Canon 650D
Canon M
Canon 600D
Fujifilm XF10
Panasonic FT7
Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic TZ90
Panasonic G6

It is notable that the 100D has a hotshoe, while the TZ95 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

The TZ95 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the 100D has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 100D was succeeded by the Canon 200D. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Panasonic websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 100D and the Panasonic TZ95? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 100D:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.54x vs 0.53x).
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2013).

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 4.9 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the 100D requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (112x69mm vs 117x91mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the 100D).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 11 months of technical progress since the 100D launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the TZ95 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 13 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 100D and the Panasonic TZ95 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 100D and the TZ95 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	camera   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon 100D	+	78/100	4/5	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549
	Panasonic TZ95	+ +	..	4.5/5	..	..	Feb 2019	449
	Canon 4000D	o	..	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	Feb 2018	399
	Canon SX740	+	..	4/5	..	4/5	Jul 2018	399
	Canon 200D	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2017	549
	Canon 7D II	+	84/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	1,799
	Canon 1200D	+	..	4/5	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449
	Canon 700D	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2013	649
	Canon G16	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	549
	Canon 650D	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849
	Canon M	+	..	4/5	3.5/5	4/5	Jul 2012	599
	Canon 600D	o	77/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	599
	Fujifilm XF10	..	75/100	4/5	..	4.5/5	Jul 2018	499
	Panasonic FT7	+	..	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	May 2018	449
	Panasonic LX100 II	+	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	999
	Panasonic TZ90	+ +	..	4/5	..	4/5	Apr 2017	449
	Panasonic G6	+ +	..	5/5	..	4.5/5	Apr 2013	599
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Camera Model
Canon 100D
Panasonic TZ95
Canon 4000D
Canon SX740
Canon 200D
Canon 7D II
Canon 1200D
Canon 700D
Canon G16
Canon 650D
Canon M
Canon 600D
Fujifilm XF10
Panasonic FT7
Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic TZ90
Panasonic G6

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Canon 100D vs Panasonic TZ95

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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