Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic GH1

Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic FZ40 versus Panasonic GH1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both produced by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the FZ40 (1/2.3") and GH1 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FZ40 was launched 13 months after the GH1 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the FZ40 matches up vs the GH1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic FZ40 Gallery & Panasonic GH1 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ40 enjoys physical dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") along with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FZ40 versus Panasonic GH1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the FZ40 compared to the GH1.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FZ40 and GH1 is 68 and 81 respectively.

Oftentimes, its tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ40 and GH1.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FZ40 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Panasonic FZ40 will give more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The fresher FZ40 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.