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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Released December 2009
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K-x, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the K-x (12MP) is fairly close but the FZ40 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The FZ40 was manufactured 7 months after the K-x so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a quick view of how the FZ40 grades versus the K-x when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Pentax K-x

 FZ40 K-x 
ReleasedJuly 2010December 2009Newer by 7 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Panasonic FZ40

 K-x FZ40 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K-x

 FZ40 K-x 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ40 comes with external measurements of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Pentax K-x has measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

See the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the FZ40 versus the K-x.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ40 and K-x is 68 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions purely by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ40 and K-x.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FZ40 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Panasonic FZ40 will render extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent FZ40 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-x Portrait photography highlights
46
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
63
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Street photography information
Pentax K-x Street photography information
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (494 grams)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
Sports photography with Pentax K-x
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery pack (1,900 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-x Travel photography advice
54
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (494 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
good battery pack (1,900 CIPA)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Landscape photography camera
51
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse mode
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (1,900 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-x as a Vlogging camera
23
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
heavier than competition in class (494 grams)
27
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K-x
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Pentax K-x
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Pentax K-x
Also called as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-07-21 2009-12-23
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II Prime
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 16.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
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 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494 grams (1.09 lb) 580 grams (1.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 811
Other
Battery life - 1900 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $420 $600