Panasonic Lumix FX700 vs FZ40: Hands-On Comparison of Two 2010 Compact Contenders

When Panasonic announced both the Lumix DMC-FX700 and DMC-FZ40 back in July 2010, they targeted two distinct sectors of the compact camera market. The FX700 aimed for the stylish, pocketable travel zoom segment, while the FZ40 boldly ventured into superzoom bridge territory, offering DSLR-style ergonomics in a small sensor package.

Having spent many hours testing both models across varied photography scenarios - from landscapes to fast-moving subjects - I’m excited to share an in-depth, experience-driven comparison between these siblings. This analysis is not a laundry list of specs, but a practical, unequivocal guide to which camera suits your photography style, budget, and demands.

Let’s dive into how these cameras truly stack up when placed through their paces, and unpack their distinct strengths and compromises.

First Impressions: Size, Handling & Build

The Panasonic FX700 thrills right out of the box with its sleek, pocketable design. Measuring just 104×56×25 mm and weighing a mere 176 grams, it’s noticeably compact - the kind of camera you’re happy to carry in your jacket or handbag daily. Its rounded edges and brushed metal finish feel modern and confident, designed for effortless travel photography.

By comparison, the FZ40’s form factor tells a different story. It’s a full-on bridge camera in the classic SLR-style chassis, sizing up at 120×80×92 mm and tipping the scales at 494 grams - nearly three times heavier and bulkier than the FX700. That extra girth accommodates the monster 25-600mm (24× zoom equivalent) lens and battery heft, giving it a strong DSLR-esque presence on hand.

Ergonomically, the FZ40 takes the prize for comfort over long sessions. Its handgrip is sculpted and deep, with well-placed physical controls including a front lens ring for zoom and a top LCD panel for quick info glance. The FX700, meanwhile, opts for minimalism - its button layout is sparse, with a focus on simplicity over direct control. Both cameras have a 3-inch, 230k-dot LCD but only the FX700 features a touch-enabled screen, which improves menu navigation despite some lag.

In summary: if you prize ultra-portability and casual shooting, FX700 fits neatly in a coat pocket. For enthusiasts who want full handling authority in a single package, the FZ40’s heft and control richness feel more purposeful.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: What the 1/2.3" Sensor Can Deliver

Both the FX700 and FZ40 share the same sensor size: a 1/2.3" CMOS for the FX700 and a CCD for the FZ40 - each with approximately 14-megapixels - so they are contending within the conventional “small sensor compact” realm. The sensor dimensions measure 6.08 x 4.56 mm, with an image area around 27.7 mm².

The FX700’s CMOS sensor, paired with the Venus Engine FHD processor, edges ahead in image quality especially in noise handling and dynamic range. Colors produce a natural palette with consistent auto white balance, although image noise becomes noticeable beyond ISO 400 - even more so above ISO 800. The fixed low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter softens fine detail marginally but helps reduce moiré artefacts, making the FX700’s output “safe” for most consumer uses.

On the other hand, the FZ40’s CCD sensor - running the Venus Engine HD II - is slightly better suited to daylight scenarios where fine detail and color rendition combine nicely. However, CCD sensors tend to lag CMOS counterparts in low-light ISO performance and dynamic range and that is evident here: the FZ40 produces more noise starting at ISO 200, limiting its suitability for dim environments.

Both cameras offer a max native ISO of 6400 but realistically, image quality degrades quickly past ISO 400 (FX700) and ISO 200 (FZ40).

Raw Support: The FZ40 supports RAW capture (a rarity in this category and era), providing considerable post-processing flexibility. FX700 does not have RAW - you’re locked to JPEG in-camera.

In practical shooting scenarios, the FX700 is better for low-light enthusiasts on a budget, while the FZ40’s sensor shines more under nice light.

Viewing and Composition: LCD and Viewfinder Differences

With no built-in viewfinder, the FX700 depends entirely on its fixed, 3" touchscreen LCD for framing. The screen, though modestly sharp at 230k dots, suffers in bright sunlight - very common in travel and outdoor use. The touchscreen enhances menu agility but is unusable during active shooting if you need precision focus placement.

The FZ40, conversely, offers a traditional hybrid shooting experience. In addition to a fixed 3" LCD of identical resolution, it boasts an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is a significant advantage when shooting in bright conditions or needing steady framing with heavy telephoto reach. The EVF boosts compositional stability and quick eye-level access, enhancing wildlife and sports photography usability.

For photographers who shoot on the fly, especially outdoors, the FZ40’s EVF is a compelling feature that improves versatility beyond simple LCD framing.

Lens and Zoom Range: Versatility vs Pocketability

Here is where the FZ40’s superzoom strengths become evident: a hefty 25-600mm equivalent range with a relatively bright maximum aperture of F2.8-5.2 lets you tackle everything from wide landscapes to distant wildlife from a single body.

The FX700’s zoom, meanwhile, spans 24-120mm at F2.2-5.9. This five-times equivalent focal length is enough for portraiture and short tele zoom shots but noticeably less reach for wildlife or sports. Its wider maximum aperture at the wide-angle end gives slightly better low-light capability for interior or travel snapshots.

Neither camera offers lens interchangeability, so the internal optics dictate much of what you can accomplish.

Macro Capabilities: The FZ40 supports extremely close focusing down to 1cm. This opened up interesting macro shots with fine detail potential, albeit still limited by small sensor resolution. The FX700 has a respectable macro range of 3cm, adequate for casual close-ups but less impressive.

Autofocus and Continuous Shooting Performance

Both cameras utilize contrast-detection autofocus systems - common in small sensor compacts - and neither has phase-detection or advanced tracking.

The FX700 offers only single AF mode without face or eye detection, making subject acquisition sometimes tedious. Continuous AF or tracking is unavailable, limiting action shooting capabilities.

The FZ40, while also lacking face/eye detection, handled focusing somewhat slower due to the heavier zoom optics and contrast system latency. However, it offered a modest 2 fps continuous shooting mode (vs. 10 fps on the FX700) that feels slow but sufficient for most walking-around subjects.

Neither camera is a powerhouse for wildlife or sports action. The FX700’s high 10 fps burst speed is more of a gimmick than practical; its buffer clears quickly and AF cannot keep up during continuous shooting.

Real-World Use Across Photography Types

Portrait Photography

• FX700: Produces attractive skin tones with natural color balance and the wider F2.2 aperture at the wide end offers decent subject separation. However, bokeh is limited by sensor size and lens optics.
• FZ40: The 25-600mm zoom lets you shoot tight portraits from afar, but slower aperture at telephoto reduces background blur quality.

Neither model offers eye detection AF, so critical focus on eyes requires patience and precision manual override.

Landscape Photography

Both cameras have the same sensor size and max resolution (14MP), adequate for casual landscape shots. The FX700’s slightly better dynamic range helps in preserving shadow details, but the FZ40’s extraordinary zoom may tempt you towards isolated landscape fragments or nature close-ups. Neither has weather sealing, so cautious handling outdoors is advised.

Wildlife Photography

The FX700’s reach is 120mm max - too short for effective wildlife framing unless extremely close.

The FZ40 excels with 600mm equivalent reach, making it a decent budget wildlife cam, though autofocus lag and burst rates and small sensor noise can limit results in fast action or low light.

Sports Photography

Neither camera enthusiastically supports sports. FX700’s 10 fps burst looks good on paper but slow AF and buffer limitations hamper actual shooting. The FZ40’s slower 2 fps is more consistent but insufficient for fast sports action. Both lack AF tracking.

Street Photography

The FX700’s compact size and discreet design excel for street candid work, providing mobility and quick grab shots. The FZ40 is heavier, more conspicuous, and slower to deploy.

Macro Photography

The FZ40’s closer minimum focus distance (1cm) and higher zoom magnification edges out the FX700’s 3cm range. For hobby macro shooters, the FZ40 is more versatile without dedicated macro lenses.

Night and Astro Photography

Given sensor size and ISO limitations, neither camera is well-suited for astrophotography beyond casual moon or moonlit landscapes. FX700 fares marginally better at higher ISOs but noise is still pronounced. The absence of bulb or long-exposure modes further restricts potential here.

Video Recording

• FX700: Offers Full HD 1080p capture at 60 fps, a standout feature for 2010. Video is encoded in AVCHD, delivering respectable quality.
• FZ40: Limited to 720p HD video, also at 60fps, but employs the lesser AVCHD Lite codec.

Neither camera includes microphone or headphone jacks, which hinders serious audio capture. Both have optical stabilization to reduce shake in movies.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Both cameras rely on proprietary batteries (unspecified models) and accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. Battery life data isn’t clearly stated but from experience, the FZ40 consumes power faster due to EVF use and large zoom optics. The FX700’s lighter load tends to stretch battery life noticeably - important for travel and everyday carry.

Neither model offers wireless connectivity options like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (not yet common in 2010), limiting instant sharing capabilities.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Both lack environmental sealing or ruggedization - no dust, splash, freeze, or shock proofing - so neither are recommended for extreme conditions.

Construction is solid for their respective classes. The FX700 feels sleek yet durable, while the FZ40’s robust plastic and faux metal finish give the impression of a sturdier tool you can handle with more confidence in field situations.

Price to Performance Ratio

At initial launch, the FX700 retailed around $399 and the FZ40 at $420. Both priced accessibly for enthusiasts seeking quality compacts without breaking the bank.

• FX700 excels in size, video quality, and everyday travel snap shooting.
• FZ40 delivers unmatched zoom versatility and RAW capture for a modest price premium.

Our overall consensus is that the FX700 presents better value for casual shooters focused on portability and video, while the FZ40 is more compelling as a do-it-all bridge camera for hobbyists who prioritize reach and format flexibility.

Putting Scores Into Perspective

Here’s a visual breakdown of how these two Panasonic compacts rate overall and by photographic genre, based on hands-on testing and aggregated performance metrics:

Panasonic FX700 front Panasonic FX700 screen back Panasonic FZ40 front Panasonic FZ40 screen back

Which One Should You Buy? Final Recommendations

Buy the Panasonic FX700 if you:

• Want an ultra-compact, pocket-friendly camera for travel and street use.
• Value 1080p Full HD video at 60fps in a small package.
• Prefer a touchscreen interface and easy, casual shooting.
• Mostly shoot in daylight or moderate indoor lighting.
• Don’t require RAW capture or super zoom reach.
• Enjoy a better price-to-portability ratio.

Choose the Panasonic FZ40 if you:

• Need a versatile superzoom that covers 25–600mm focal lengths.
• Want RAW support for workflow flexibility and post-processing freedom.
• Value an electronic viewfinder to aid composition in bright or action-heavy settings.
• Want more precise macro focusing for hobby close-up shots.
• Are willing to carry bulkier equipment for added control and telephoto reach.
• Shoot mostly in good light and want a bridge camera alternative to an entry DSLR.

Summary: A Tale of Two Panasonics from 2010

Both the Lumix FX700 and FZ40 exemplify 2010’s compact camera innovation tailored to divergent uses:

• FX700 prioritizes sleekness, video, and casual travel photography, trading zoom range and manual flexibility.
• FZ40 delivers optical versatility, raw capture, and DSLR-style control, sacrificing size and video specs.

Neither is perfect, but each shines when matched to its intended audience’s needs. My extensive hands-on experience reaffirmed that choosing between these two hinges on weighing portability versus zoom and video capability.

Whether you stroll the city with an FX700’s pocket elegance or stalk wildlife with an FZ40’s superzoom prowess, both remain capable companions in their niche - proof that even a decade later, intelligent design decisions can keep technology relevant in photography exploration.

I hope this hands-on comparison provides clarity and confidence for your next purchase. Feel free to reach out with questions about these or other compact cameras. Happy shooting!