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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Superseded the Panasonic LZ20
  • Later Model is Panasonic LZ40
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Following is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are manufactured by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the LZ30 (16MP) is very close and both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FZ40 was released 3 years before the LZ30 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the FZ40 grades versus the LZ30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Panasonic LZ30

 FZ40 LZ30 
Manually focus More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Panasonic FZ40

 LZ30 FZ40 
LaunchedJanuary 2013July 2010More modern by 30 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic LZ30

 FZ40 LZ30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ40 provides outer 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) and the Panasonic LZ30 has specifications of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FZ40 versus the LZ30.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the FZ40 and LZ30 is 68 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through specs. The image below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ40 and LZ30.

All in all, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Panasonic LZ30 to render more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images more aggressively. The more aged FZ40 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography details
Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography details
46
manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
exports RAW files
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
32
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ40
Street photography with Panasonic LZ30
51
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (494 grams)
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competition in class (552 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
Sports photography with Panasonic LZ30
43
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
great battery life (380 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Travel photography camera
54
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (494g)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
great battery life (380 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (875mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (552g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography highlights
51
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
45
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
great battery life (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Vlogging camera
23
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than others in class (494g)
22
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
heavier than competition in class (552g)
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic LZ30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Also called Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-07-21 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-875mm (35.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.50 m 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494 gr (1.09 lbs) 552 gr (1.22 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 380 shots
Battery format - AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $420 $230