• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 37.00mm - 185.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.33 inch 28.2mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 288.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
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Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:    
General
Model Number: SD970 IS SZ8
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Ultra Compact Compact
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $379.99 $169.99
Street Price: $169.95 $225.99
Date Available: 2009-04-15 2014-03-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 6.7 oz (189 g)
includes batteries
5.6 oz (159 g)
includes batteries
Size: 3.7 x 2.2 x 1.0 in.
(95 x 57 x 26 mm)
3.9 x 2.4 x 1.0 in.
(100 x 60 x 27 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD CCD
Sensor Manufacturer:    
Effective Megapixels: 12.1 16.0
Sensor Format: 1/2.3 inch 1/2.33 inch
Sensor size: 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm) 28.198mm2 (6.13mm x 4.6mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.54 microns 1.33 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a n/a
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:    
Self-Cleaning: No No
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:    
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):    
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):    
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):    
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
4000 x 2248 (9.0 MP, 16:9),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
4608 x 3072 (14.2 MP, 3:2),
4608 x 2592 (11.9 MP, 16:9),
3456 x 3456 (11.9 MP, 1:1),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
3264 x 2176 (7.1 MP, 3:2),
2048 x 1536 (3.1 MP, 4:3),
2048 x 1360 (2.8 MP, Other),
1536 x 1536 (2.4 MP, 1:1),
1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG (EXIF v2.3)
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.0 1.2
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
1280x720 (30p)
640x480 (30p)
320x240 (30p)
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) Motion JPEG with monaural audio
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes No
Video Usable as Viewfinder:
HD Video Out: Yes No
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a n/a
Lens: Canon Zoom Lens (8 elements in 6 groups, including 2 aspherical) 8 elements in 8 groups (4 Aspherical elements / 8 Aspherical surfaces / 1 ED elements)
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 37 - 185mm 24 - 288mm
Focal Length (actual): 6.6 - 33mm 4.3 - 51.6mm
Zoom Ratio: 5.00x 12.00x
Aperture Range: f/3.2 or f/9.2 (W) / f/5.8 or f/16.6 (T) f/3.1 or 7.8 (W) / f/6.3 or 16.3 (T)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
3 cm to Infinity
1.2 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 2 - 50 cm
0.8 - 19.7 in
 
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x Up to 4x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detect AF with Face Detection Contrast Detect: Face / 9-Area / 1-Area
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: No No
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type:    
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):    
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):    
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 461,000 dots 460,000 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x 16.0x
Top Deck Display:
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):   1600
Minimum ISO (native):   100
ISO Settings: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200* (*special scene mode) Auto, iISO, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600; High Sensitivity mode (ISO 1600-6400)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, White Set
Shutter Speed Range: 1/1600 - 15 sec 1/2000 - 60 sec
Bulb Mode: No No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot, Face Detect AE Intelligent Multiple
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: No No
Shutter Priority: No No
Full Manual Exposure: No No
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Creative Light Effect, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Long Shutter, Exposure Zoom, Stitch Assist Panorama Shot, Scene (Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Baby1*, Baby2*, Pet*, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Glass Through, HDR, Starry Sky *Birthday only.), Creative Control (Expressive, Retro, Old Days, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, Dynamic Monochrome, Impressive Art, High Dynamic, Cross Process, Toy Effect, Miniature Effect, Soft Focus, Star Filter, One Point Color (15 filters))
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, Slow Synchro Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: Auto ISO: 1-11 ft./30cm-3.5m (W), 1-6.6 ft./30cm-2.0m (T) Auto ISO: 0.6 - 5.2m (Wide), 1.5 - 2.6m (Tele)
Max Flash Sync:    
Flash Exposure Compensation:    
External Flash Connection: n/a n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No No
Uncompressed Format:    
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) Motion JPEG with monaural audio
Included Memory: No memory included 80.0 MB
Included Memory Type:   Internal
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes
Remote Control Type:   Via Wi-Fi
Connections (extended): Multipurpose USB/AV connector, HDMI output  
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 1.98  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press?
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.0 1.2
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited  
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.40 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.45 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):    
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.078 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 1.9 seconds  
Play -> Record Time:    
Flash cycle time, full power: 8.0 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 270 shots 200 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NB-5L Proprietary
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable 3.6V, 690mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NB-5L Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Canon Software Suite CD-ROM  
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Optical Image Stabilization, Face Detection, Motion Detection, 720p HD video. 16MP CCD, Optical Image Stabilization, 720p HD video, built-in Wi-FI, USB charging.