Panasonic S5 vs Panasonic ZS40

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic S5 and Panasonic ZS40, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the S5 (24MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the S5 (Full frame) and ZS40 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The S5 was manufactured 6 years after the ZS40 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the S5 scores versus the ZS40 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic S5 Gallery & Panasonic ZS40 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S5 offers physical dimensions of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic S5 and Panasonic ZS40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the S5 compared to the ZS40.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S5 and ZS40 is 60 and 90 respectively.

Typically, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by seeing specifications. The pic below might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S5 and ZS40.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The S5 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic S5 will produce extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer S5 provides an advantage in sensor tech.