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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
Portability
65
Imaging
42
Features
38
Overall
40

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2007
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic FZ40 versus Panasonic L1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are manufactured by Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and L1 (7MP) and the FZ40 (1/2.3") and L1 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The FZ40 was manufactured 3 years after the L1 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the FZ40 grades against the L1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Panasonic L1

 FZ40 L1 
IntroducedJuly 2010April 2007More modern by 40 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k207kCrisper display (+23k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Panasonic FZ40

 L1 FZ40 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic L1

 FZ40 L1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ40 features outside dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") along with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Panasonic L1 has specifications of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FZ40 versus Panasonic L1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the FZ40 vs the L1.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ40 and L1 is 68 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by going over specs. The pic below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ40 and L1.

All in all, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FZ40 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Panasonic FZ40 will offer more detail due to its extra 7 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher FZ40 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ40
Portrait photography with Panasonic L1
46
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
55
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (7 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic L1 as a Street photography camera
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors in class (494 grams)
58
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (606g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
Sports photography with Panasonic L1
43
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
41
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (7 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography features
Panasonic L1 Travel photography features
54
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (494g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
50
lighter than competition (606g)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (7MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography info
Panasonic L1 Landscape photography info
51
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse function
48
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (7 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic L1 as a Vlogging camera
23
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (494g)
9
can't record video
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic L1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic L1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-07-21 2007-04-11
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 7 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 3136 x 2352
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 3
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 45
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 207 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format AVCHD Lite -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494g (1.09 lb) 606g (1.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $420 $1,500