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Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
80
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 349g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX500 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX520 HS
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Canon SX510 HS and Panasonic FZ40, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SX510 HS (12MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is very well matched and they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX510 HS was revealed 3 years after the FZ40 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX510 HS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SX510 HS grades versus the FZ40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX510 HS over the Panasonic FZ40

 SX510 HS FZ40 
AnnouncedAugust 2013July 2010More modern by 38 months
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Canon SX510 HS

 FZ40 SX510 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX510 HS and Panasonic FZ40

 SX510 HS FZ40 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX510 HS provides external dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has measurements of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX510 HS and Panasonic FZ40 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SX510 HS and the FZ40.

Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX510 HS and FZ40 is 80 and 68 respectively.

Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes just by checking technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX510 HS and FZ40.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Panasonic FZ40 to resolve more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher SX510 HS is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography advice
35
has manual focus
includes face detect focusing
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
46
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX510 HS
Street photography with Panasonic FZ40
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (494 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX510 HS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Sports photography camera
37
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (250 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Travel photography advice
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography advice
54
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (250 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
54
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (494g)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography advice
40
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery life (250 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
51
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX510 HS
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ40
31
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
23
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than competition (494 grams)
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Canon SX510 HS vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX510 HS and Panasonic FZ40
 Canon PowerShot SX510 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX510 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-08-22 2010-07-21
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 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 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 1 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 349g (0.77 pounds) 494g (1.09 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
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 250 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $249 $420