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Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX270 HS
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS45
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Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Canon SX280 HS and Panasonic ZS40, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was announced 9 months prior to the ZS40 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SX280 HS grades vs the ZS40 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Panasonic ZS40

 SX280 HS ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Canon SX280 HS

 ZS40 SX280 HS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014March 2013More recent by 9 months
Screen resolution920k461kSharper screen (+459k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Panasonic ZS40

 SX280 HS ZS40 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX280 HS enjoys physical dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX280 HS and Panasonic ZS40 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the SX280 HS and the ZS40.

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX280 HS and ZS40 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX280 HS and ZS40.

As you can see, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Panasonic ZS40 to provide extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older SX280 HS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX280 HS
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS40
34
focusing manually
has face detection focusing
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
52
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (233g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
69
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average (240g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX280 HS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS40
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (210 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than competition (233g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (210 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than average (240 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX280 HS
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS40
41
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery pack (210 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
56
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (233 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (240 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing external mic port
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Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Panasonic ZS40
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-03-21 2014-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233 gr (0.51 lbs) 240 gr (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 210 pictures 300 pictures
Style 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $325 $450