Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-7

Here is a detailed review of the Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-7, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is fairly close but the FZ40 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The FZ40 was introduced 10 months later than the K-7 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short introduction of how the FZ40 grades vs the K-7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 and Pentax K-7. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic FZ40 Gallery and Pentax K-7 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ40 has got physical 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 Pentax K-7 has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the FZ40 and the K-7.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the FZ40 and K-7 is 68 and 60 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ40 and K-7.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FZ40 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-7 will provide you with more detail using its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent FZ40 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.