Joint winners: Panasonic FZ35 (FZ38) and Canon SX20 IS
It seems not too much has changed since our 2009 superzoom group test, when the Panasonic FZ28 and Canon SX10 IS, the predecessors of this year's winners, jointly grabbed the title. Despite the introduction of ever longer zoom ranges and, with back-illuminated CMOS sensors, even a completely new technology in competitive cameras, the Panasonic and Canon are still the most refined models in this test. Both are fairly minor upgrades to successful and popular models in long established product lines and have, just like a fine wine, over the years matured almost to perfection.
Both models score lots of points points with their refined and ergonomic user interfaces, reliable metering and focusing systems, lenses that are sharp across the zoom range, responsive operation, good quality HD video modes and, for this class of camera, excellent image quality. Nevertheless these are two quite different cameras and which one is the one for you will almost entirely be down to personal preference. The Canon is, at least partly because of its size and weight, in terms of handling and operation much closer to an entry-level DSLR than the Panasonic. It also comes with an articulated screen, by far the best viewfinder in this test, a slightly longer zoom and a flash hotshoe.
The Panasonic on the other hand is small and light enough to carry it with you at all times and comes with a user interface that is, despite offering plenty of manual controls, arguably better suited for less experienced users. It's a reliable and responsive camera that works equally well in auto or manual modes, offers a RAW format and on top of that is available at a very attractive price point.
While in terms of base ISO image quality the two cameras are extremely close, producing very sharp and detailed output, at higher sensitivities the processing engines take slightly different approaches. The Canon opts for a very clean image that blurs more fine detail than the Panasonic output. The latter preserves visibly more detail but this comes at the cost of higher noise and artifact levels. None of the superzooms in this test are capable of producing particularly appealing high-ISO output but the FZ35 and SX20 IS definitely represent the best of the bunch albeit by adopting slightly different approaches.
Overall, both the Panasonic FZ35 and the Canon SX20 IS perform very well in most areas. With its excellent viewfinder and well designed control layout the Canon is arguably more of a 'photographer's camera' while the Panasonic is ideal if you need bags of zoom in a small package. Which one is better for you depends entirely on your requirements but in any case you can't go wrong with either of these cameras.
Group test written by Lars Rehm.
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