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Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Canon SX260 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Succeeded the Canon SX240 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX270 HS
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Succeeded the Panasonic LZ30
Photography Glossary

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the SX260 HS (12MP) and LZ40 (20MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX260 HS was launched 19 months earlier than the LZ40 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX260 HS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SX260 HS grades vs the LZ40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Panasonic LZ40

 SX260 HS LZ40 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Canon SX260 HS

 LZ40 SX260 HS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014June 2012More modern by 19 months

Common features in the Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic LZ40

 SX260 HS LZ40 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX260 HS features physical dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ40 has specifications of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") having a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SX260 HS compared to the LZ40.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX260 HS and LZ40 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The pic here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SX260 HS and LZ40.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic LZ40 to give extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged SX260 HS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Portrait photography features
Panasonic LZ40 Portrait photography features
37
has manual focus
comes with face detect autofocus
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
40
MP count decent (20MP)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Street photography factors
Panasonic LZ40 Street photography factors
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (231 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than competition in class (524 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Sports photography information
Panasonic LZ40 Sports photography information
36
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (230 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX260 HS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than competition in class (231g)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (230 shots)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
55
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (22mm)
great reach (924mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (524g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic LZ40 Landscape photography advice
41
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery (230 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
44
pretty wide (22mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX260 HS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (231g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no mic port
27
pretty wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
does have mic port
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
heavier than competition in class (524 grams)
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Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic LZ40
 Canon PowerShot SX260 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-06-04 2014-01-06
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 22-924mm (42.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.0-6.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology PureColor II TFT LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 10.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 231g (0.51 pounds) 524g (1.16 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 320 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $349 $219