Canon SX60 vs Panasonic G95

The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and the Panasonic Lumix DC-G95 (labelled Panasonic G90 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2014 and April 2019. The SX60 is a fixed lens compact, while the G95 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX60) and a Four Thirds (G95) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 14.2 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 SX60		Panasonic G95
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5		Micro Four Thirds lenses
14.2 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor		20.2 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
1080/60p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-3,200 (100 - 6,400)		ISO 200-25,600
Electronic viewfinder (922k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0 LCD, 922k dots		3.0 LCD, 1240k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel touchscreen
6.4 shutter flaps per second		9 shutter flaps per second
Lens-based stabilization		In-body stabilization
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
340 shots per battery charge		290 shots per battery charge
128 x 93 x 114 mm, 650 g		130 x 94 x 77 mm, 536 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and the Panasonic Lumix DC-G95? 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 SX60 and the Panasonic G95 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 width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic G95 is somewhat larger (3 percent) than the Canon SX60. It is noteworthy in this context that the G95 is splash and dust-proof, while the SX60 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX60 has a lens built in, whereas the G95 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 G95 and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the SX60 gets 340 shots out of its NB-10L battery, while the G95 can take 290 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLC12 power pack. The power pack in the G95 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon SX60	5.0 in	3.7 in	4.5 in	22.9 oz	340	n	Sep 2014	549
	Panasonic G95	5.1 in	3.7 in	3.0 in	18.9 oz	290	Y	Apr 2019	999
	Canon SX70	5.0 in	3.6 in	4.6 in	21.4 oz	325	n	Sep 2018	549
	Canon G1 X Mark II	4.6 in	2.9 in	2.6 in	19.5 oz	240	n	Feb 2014	799
	Canon G16	4.3 in	3.0 in	1.6 in	12.6 oz	360	n	Aug 2013	549
	Canon G15	4.2 in	3.0 in	1.6 in	12.4 oz	350	n	Sep 2012	499
	Canon SX50	4.8 in	3.4 in	4.2 in	21.0 oz	315	n	Sep 2012	429
	Nikon P900	5.5 in	4.1 in	5.4 in	31.7 oz	360	n	Mar 2015	599
	Olympus E-M1 III	5.3 in	3.6 in	2.7 in	20.5 oz	420	Y	Feb 2020	1,799
	Olympus E-M5 III	4.9 in	3.3 in	2.0 in	14.6 oz	310	Y	Oct 2019	1,199
	Panasonic GX9	4.9 in	2.8 in	1.9 in	14.4 oz	260	n	Feb 2018	849
	Panasonic G85	5.0 in	3.5 in	2.9 in	17.8 oz	330	Y	Sep 2016	899
	Panasonic FZ300	5.2 in	3.6 in	4.6 in	24.4 oz	380	Y	Jul 2015	599
	Panasonic GX8	5.2 in	3.1 in	2.5 in	17.2 oz	330	Y	Jul 2015	1,199
	Panasonic FZ200	4.9 in	3.4 in	4.3 in	20.7 oz	540	n	Jul 2012	599
	Panasonic FZ150	4.9 in	3.2 in	3.6 in	18.6 oz	410	n	Aug 2011	499
	Sony HX400V	5.1 in	3.7 in	4.1 in	23.3 oz	300	n	Feb 2014	499
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Metric

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX60 was launched at a lower price than the G95, 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 imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX60 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Panasonic G95 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the G95 is 704 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.0. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

With 20.2MP, the G95 offers a higher resolution than the SX60 (14.2MP), but the G95 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.34μm versus 1.40μm for the SX60) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the G95 is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 6 months) than the SX60, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic G95 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the G95 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon SX60 are 23 x 15.4 inches or 58.5 x 39 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 12.3 inches or 46.8 x 31.2 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 100-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-G95 are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Canon SX60	1/2.3	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	19.2	10.8	127	39
	Panasonic G95	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon SX70	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
	Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
	Canon G15	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	19.9	11.5	165	46
	Canon SX50	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	20.3	11.2	179	47
	Nikon P900	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Olympus E-M1 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Olympus E-M5 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4k/24p	..	..	..	..
	Panasonic GX9	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Panasonic G85	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	4K/30p	22.8	12.5	656	71
	Panasonic FZ300	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	19.3	11.0	97	38
	Panasonic GX8	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.5	12.6	806	75
	Panasonic FZ200	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.1	10.8	114	37
	Panasonic FZ150	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.4	10.9	132	40
	Sony HX400V	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the G95 provides a better video resolution than the SX60. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the G95 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the SX60 (2360k vs 922k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon SX60 and Panasonic G95 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 SX60	922	n	3.0	922	swivel	n	1/2000s	6.4	Y	Y
	Panasonic G95	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	Y
	Canon SX70	2360	n	3.0	922	swivel	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2	Y	Y
	Canon G16	optical	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2	Y	Y
	Canon G15	optical	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.1	Y	Y
	Canon SX50	202	n	3.0	461	swivel	n	1/2000s	2.2	Y	Y
	Nikon P900	921	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
	Olympus E-M1 III	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0	n	Y
	Olympus E-M5 III	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
	Panasonic GX9	2760	n	3.0	1240	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	Y
	Panasonic G85	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	Y
	Panasonic FZ300	1440	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
	Panasonic GX8	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
	Panasonic FZ200	1312	n	3.0	460	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
	Panasonic FZ150	202	n	3.0	460	swivel	n	1/2000s	12.0	Y	Y
	Sony HX400V	210	n	3.0	921	tilting	n	1/4000s	10.0	Y	Y

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The G95 has a touchscreen, while the SX60 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

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 G95 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).

The Panasonic G95 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX60 and the G95 write their files to SDXC cards. The G95 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the SX60 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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 PowerShot SX60 HS and Panasonic Lumix DC-G95 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 SX60	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Panasonic G95	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Canon SX70	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G16	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Canon G15	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon SX50	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Nikon P900	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Olympus E-M1 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
	Olympus E-M5 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Panasonic GX9	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Panasonic G85	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Panasonic FZ300	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Panasonic GX8	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Panasonic FZ200	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Panasonic FZ150	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Sony HX400V	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

The G95 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the SX60 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the SX60 was succeeded by the Canon SX70. 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 conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon SX60 better than the Panasonic G95 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS:

• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the G95 requires a separate lens.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (340 versus 290) on a single battery charge.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2014).

Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-G95:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20.2 vs 14.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 17%.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2360k vs 922k dots).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1240k vs 922k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (9 vs 6.4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-II standard.
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 6 months of technical progress since the SX60 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the G95 is the clear winner of the contest (20 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro 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 SX60 and the Panasonic G95 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens 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 remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the SX60 or the G95. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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 SX60	+ +	75/100	4/5	..	4.5/5	Sep 2014	549
	Panasonic G95	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2019	999
	Canon SX70	+ +	..	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	Sep 2018	549
	Canon G1 X Mark II	+	77/100	4/5	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	799
	Canon G16	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	549
	Canon G15	+	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	499
	Canon SX50	+ +	72/100	4.5/5	..	4.5/5	Sep 2012	429
	Nikon P900	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2015	599
	Olympus E-M1 III	..	83/100	4.5/5	..	4/5	Feb 2020	1,799
	Olympus E-M5 III	+	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2019	1,199
	Panasonic GX9	+	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	849
	Panasonic G85	+ +	84/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	899
	Panasonic FZ300	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2015	599
	Panasonic GX8	+	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2015	1,199
	Panasonic FZ200	+ +	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2012	599
	Panasonic FZ150	+ +	76/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2011	499
	Sony HX400V	+ +	..	4/5	..	4/5	Feb 2014	499
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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Specifications: Canon SX60 vs Panasonic G95

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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