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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 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
  • Released July 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both designed by Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FZ40 was released 15 months after the ZS3 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a short introduction of how the FZ40 scores against the ZS3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Panasonic ZS3

 FZ40 ZS3 
RevealedJuly 2010May 2009Newer by 15 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Panasonic FZ40

 ZS3 FZ40 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic ZS3

 FZ40 ZS3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FZ40 features external dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") having a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS3 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 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 are using during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the FZ40 and the ZS3.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ40 and ZS3 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to picture the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specs. The image here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ40 and ZS3.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic FZ40 to deliver more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher FZ40 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography highlights
46
you can focus manually
decent MP (14MP)
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
19
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (494g)
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
43
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography info
54
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (494g)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ40
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS3
51
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no Timelapse function
35
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging advice
23
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (494g)
30
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic ZS3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called Lumix DMC-FZ45 Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-21 2009-05-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Lite 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 494 grams (1.09 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $420 $200