Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS50

Lets take a deeper look at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS50, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are offered by Panasonic. The resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is pretty close and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The FZ40 was manufactured 5 years prior to the ZS50 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FZ40 scores vs the ZS50 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic FZ40 Gallery and Panasonic ZS50 Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ40 provides external dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS50 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS50 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the FZ40 compared to the ZS50.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ40 and ZS50 is 68 and 90 respectively.

More often than not, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions merely by researching a spec sheet. The picture below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ40 and ZS50.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic FZ40 to provide you with more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged FZ40 will be behind in sensor technology.