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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Announced February 2016
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS45
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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS40, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the B500 (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is pretty similar and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The B500 was manufactured 2 years after the ZS40 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the B500 grades vs the ZS40 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Panasonic ZS40

 B500 ZS40 
RevealedFebruary 2016January 2014Newer by 26 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Nikon B500

 ZS40 B500 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS40

 B500 ZS40 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon B500 offers outside dimensions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

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Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the B500 and the ZS40.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the B500 and ZS40 is 68 and 90 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading specs. The image here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the B500 and ZS40.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should expect the Panasonic ZS40 to offer extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more modern B500 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon B500 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography features
37
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
52
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon B500
Street photography with Panasonic ZS40
52
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competition (541g)
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (240g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Nikon B500 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography features
51
long zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
good battery power (600 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
54
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon B500 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography information
59
good battery power (600 shots)
supports bluetooth
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (23mm)
great zoom (900mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (541 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
megapixel count good (18MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon B500 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography info
45
really wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good battery power (600 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
56
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
saves RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Vlogging camera
27
really wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone jack
more heavy than competition (541g)
34
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (240g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS40
 Nikon Coolpix B500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix B500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-02-23 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to 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 - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-900mm (39.1x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.4 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 6.40 m
Flash settings - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 541 grams (1.19 lb) 240 grams (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 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 600 photos 300 photos
Type of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $300 $450