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Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS11
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS45
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Panasonic FH3 and Panasonic ZS40, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the FH3 (14MP) and ZS40 (18MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FH3 was brought out 5 years prior to the ZS40 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the FH3 scores against the ZS40 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Panasonic ZS40

 FH3 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Panasonic FH3

 ZS40 FH3 
LaunchedJanuary 2014January 2010More modern by 48 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Panasonic ZS40

 FH3 ZS40 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH3 enjoys physical dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FH3 and Panasonic ZS40 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the FH3 compared to the ZS40.

Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the FH3 and ZS40 is 94 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The image here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH3 and ZS40.

As you can see, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Panasonic ZS40 to give extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FH3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FH3
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS40
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
52
manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography factors
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography features
34
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
54
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
features tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography features
64
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
37
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
56
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
exports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Vlogging camera
29
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
34
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (240g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
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Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Panasonic ZS40
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called as Lumix DMC-FS11 Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-01-06 2014-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.80 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 165 gr (0.36 pounds) 240 gr (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $160 $450