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Panasonic FZ100 vs Canon SX60

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 and the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in July 2010 and September 2014. Both the FZ100 and the SX60 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 14 megapixels, whereas the Canon provides 14.2 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Panasonic FZ100
versus
Canon SX60
Panasonic FZ100   Canon SX60
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
25-600mm f/2.8-5.2 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5
14 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 14.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
1080/60i Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 6,400) ISO 100-3,200 (100 - 6,400)
Electronic viewfinder (202k dots) Electronic viewfinder (922k dots)
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
11 shutter flaps per second 6.4 shutter flaps per second
410 shots per battery charge340 shots per battery charge
124 x 82 x 92 mm, 540 g 128 x 93 x 114 mm, 650 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 and the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS? 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.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Panasonic FZ100 and the Canon SX60 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Panasonic FZ100 vs Canon SX60
Compare FZ100 versus SX60 top
Comparison FZ100 or SX60 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon SX60 is notably larger (17 percent) than the Panasonic FZ100. Moreover, the SX60 is markedly heavier (20 percent) than the FZ100. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the FZ100 nor the SX60 are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the FZ100 gets 410 shots out of its Panasonic DMW-BMB9 battery, while the SX60 can take 340 images on a single charge of its Canon NB-10L power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic FZ100 124 mm 82 mm 92 mm 540 g 410 n Jul 2010 499ebay.com
2.
 
Canon SX60 128 mm 93 mm 114 mm 650 g 340 n Sep 2014 549ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX70 127 mm 91 mm 117 mm 608 g 325 n Sep 2018 549 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SX530 120 mm 82 mm 92 mm 442 g 210 n Jan 2015 429ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 116 mm 74 mm 66 mm 553 g 240 n Feb 2014 799ebay.com
6.
 
Canon G16 109 mm 76 mm 40 mm 356 g 360 n Aug 2013 549ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX50 123 mm 87 mm 106 mm 595 g 315 n Sep 2012 429ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX40 123 mm 92 mm 108 mm 600 g 380 n Sep 2011 429ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX30 123 mm 92 mm 108 mm 601 g 370 n Sep 2010 429ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX20 123 mm 88 mm 87 mm 600 g .. n Aug 2009 399ebay.com
11.
 
Leica V-LUX 3 124 mm 81 mm 95 mm 540 g 410 n Dec 2011 949ebay.com
12.
 
Leica V-LUX 2 124 mm 80 mm 95 mm 520 g 410 n Sep 2010 849ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic FZ300 132 mm 92 mm 117 mm 691 g 380 Y Jul 2015 599 amazon.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ200 125 mm 87 mm 110 mm 588 g 540 n Jul 2012 599ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ150 124 mm 82 mm 92 mm 528 g 410 n Aug 2011 499ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The FZ100 was somewhat cheaper (by 9 percent) than the SX60 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Panasonic FZ100 and Canon SX60 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the SX60 offers a slightly higher resolution of 14.2 megapixels, compared with 14 MP of the FZ100. This megapixels advantage translates into a 7 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the SX60 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.40μm versus 1.41μm for the FZ100). However, it should be noted that the SX60 is much more recent (by 4 years and 1 month) than the FZ100, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS are ISO 100 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-6400.

In terms of underlying technology, the FZ100 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the SX60 uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

FZ100 versus SX60 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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 following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic FZ100 1/2.3 14.0 4320 32401080/60i19.410.730639
2.
 
Canon SX60 1/2.3 14.2 4608 30721080/60p19.210.812739
3.
 
Canon SX70 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1106351
4.
 
Canon SX530 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.211.671247
5.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 1.5-inch 13.0 4160 31201080/30p21.510.858158
6.
 
Canon G16 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/60p21.011.723054
7.
 
Canon SX50 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/24p20.311.217947
8.
 
Canon SX40 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/24p19.610.940941
9.
 
Canon SX30 1/2.3 14.0 4320 3240720/30p19.410.732039
10.
 
Canon SX20 1/2.3 12.0 4000 3000720/30p19.210.522537
11.
 
Leica V-LUX 3 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p19.711.043042
12.
 
Leica V-LUX 2 1/2.3 14.0 4320 32401080/60i19.410.732139
13.
 
Panasonic FZ300 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30004K/30p19.311.09738
14.
 
Panasonic FZ200 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p19.110.811437
15.
 
Panasonic FZ150 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p19.410.913240
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the SX60 provides a faster frame rate than the FZ100. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the Panasonic is limited to 1080/60i.

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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 SX60 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the FZ100 (922k vs 202k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic FZ100 and Canon SX60 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic FZ100202 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/2000s 11.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon SX60922 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 6.4/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX702360 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon SX530none n3.0 / 461 fixed n 1/2000s 1.6/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIoptional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 5.2/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon G16optical n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 2.2/s Y Y
7.
 
Canon SX50202 n3.0 / 461 swivel n 1/2000s 2.2/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon SX40202 n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/3200s 10.3/s Y Y
9.
 
Canon SX30202 n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/3200s 0.6/s Y Y
10.
 
Canon SX20202 n2.5 / 230 swivel n 1/3200s 0.7/s Y Y
11.
 
Leica V-LUX 3202 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/2000s 12.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Leica V-LUX 2202 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/2000s 11.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Panasonic FZ3001440 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Panasonic FZ2001312 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Panasonic FZ150202 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/2000s 12.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

Both the FZ100 and the SX60 have zoom lenses built in. The FZ100 has a 25-600mm f/2.8-5.2 optic and the SX60 offers a 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Canon provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Panasonic. The FZ100 offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the FZ100 and the SX60 write their files to SDXC cards.

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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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 and Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic FZ100Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Canon SX60Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon SX70-stereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon SX530-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon G16Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
7.
 
Canon SX50Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon SX40Ystereo / mono--YES2.0---
9.
 
Canon SX30Ystereo / mono--YES2.0---
10.
 
Canon SX20Ystereo / mono--YES2.0---
11.
 
Leica V-LUX 3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
12.
 
Leica V-LUX 2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic FZ300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
14.
 
Panasonic FZ200Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
15.
 
Panasonic FZ150Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
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It is notable that the SX60 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the FZ100 does not provide wifi capability.

Both the FZ100 and the SX60 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The FZ100 was replaced by the Panasonic FZ150, while the SX60 was followed by the Canon SX70. Further information on the features and operation of the FZ100 and SX60 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic FZ100 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon SX60 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Panasonic FZ100 or the Canon SX60 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100:

  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (11 vs 6.4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/2.8 vs f/3.4).
  • More compact: Is smaller (124x82mm vs 128x93mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 110g or 17 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (410 versus 340) on a single battery charge.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in July 2010).

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Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS:

  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/60i).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (922k vs 202k dots).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 460k dots).
  • Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
  • More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years and 1 month of technical progress since the FZ100 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the SX60 emerges as the winner of the match-up (9 : 6 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.

FZ100 06:09 SX60

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic FZ100 and the Canon SX60 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing 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 FZ100 or the SX60. 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 where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic FZ100..+....4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2010 499ebay.com
2.
 
Canon SX603/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 549ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX70..+ +3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Sep 2018 549 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SX530..+ +....4/54/5 Jan 2015 429ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II3/5+..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2014 799ebay.com
6.
 
Canon G164/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 549ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX503/5+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 429ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX40..+....4.5/54/5 Sep 2011 429ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX303/5+ +....3.5/54/5 Sep 2010 429ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX20..+ +..73/100..4/5 Aug 2009 399ebay.com
11.
 
Leica V-LUX 3............ Dec 2011 949ebay.com
12.
 
Leica V-LUX 2............ Sep 2010 849ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic FZ300..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 599 amazon.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ2003/5+ +..80/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2012 599ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ1503/5+ +..76/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2011 499ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, 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.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. 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: Panasonic FZ100 vs Canon SX60

    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.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Panasonic FZ100 Canon SX60
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 25-600mm f/2.8-5.2 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5
    Launch Date July 2010 September 2014
    Launch Price USD 499 USD 549
    Sensor Specs Panasonic FZ100 Canon SX60
    Sensor Technology CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.0735 mm2 28.0735 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 14 Megapixels 14.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4320 x 3240 pixels 4608 x 3072 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.41 μm 1.40 μm
    Pixel Density 49.86 MP/cm2 50.42 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 3,200 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    Image Processor Venus FHD DIGIC 6
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 39
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 19.2
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 10.8
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 127
    Screen Specs Panasonic FZ100 Canon SX60
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Resolution 202k dots 922k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Swivel screen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic FZ100 Canon SX60
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/2000s 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 11 shutter flaps/s 6.4 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic FZ100 Canon SX60
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Body Specs Panasonic FZ100 Canon SX60
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BMB9 Canon NB-10L
    Battery Life (CIPA)410 shots per charge340 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 124 x 82 x 92 mm
    (4.9 x 3.2 x 3.6 in)
    128 x 93 x 114 mm
    (5.0 x 3.7 x 4.5 in)
    Camera Weight 540 g (19.0 oz) 650 g (22.9 oz)
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