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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Launched July 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Panasonic FZ40 versus Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. The image resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is pretty similar and they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FZ40 was introduced 21 months earlier than the ZS20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the FZ40 scores vs the ZS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Panasonic ZS20

 FZ40 ZS20 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Panasonic FZ40

 ZS20 FZ40 
IntroducedApril 2012July 2010More recent by 21 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic ZS20

 FZ40 ZS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ40 comes with exterior measurements of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FZ40 versus Panasonic ZS20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the FZ40 compared to the ZS20.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ40 and ZS20 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements just by going over a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ40 and ZS20.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the identical MP and you should expect similar quality of files but you will want to take the production date of the products into consideration. The older FZ40 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
46
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
30
megapixel count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography features
51
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than others (494 grams)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than others (206 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
47
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (260 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography info
54
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than others (494 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than others (206 grams)
features focus by touch
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (260 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography information
51
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have Timelapse function
42
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FZ40
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
23
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than others (494g)
34
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (206 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic ZS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45 Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-07-21 2012-04-26
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494g (1.09 lbs) 206g (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Battery life - 260 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $420 $349