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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Pentax K100D Super front
Portability
65
Imaging
45
Features
38
Overall
42

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S 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
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
Pentax K100D S
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 129 x 91 x 71mm
  • Introduced June 2007
  • Superseded the Pentax K100D
  • Newer Model is Pentax K200D
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and K100D S (6MP) and the FZ40 (1/2.3") and K100D S (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The FZ40 was brought out 3 years later than the K100D S and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K100D S being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the FZ40 scores vs the K100D S in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Pentax K100D S

 FZ40 K100D S 
IntroducedJuly 2010June 2007Fresher by 38 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k210kClearer screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D S over the Panasonic FZ40

 K100D S FZ40 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K100D S

 FZ40 K100D S 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ40 features outside 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) whilst the Pentax K100D S has specifications of 129mm x 91mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the FZ40 and the K100D S.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ40 and K100D S is 68 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through specs. The visual below may provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ40 and K100D S.

As you can plainly see, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FZ40 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic FZ40 will resolve extra detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more modern FZ40 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Portrait photography camera
46
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
51
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Street photography camera
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (494g)
64
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Sports photography camera
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography features
Pentax K100D S Travel photography features
54
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (494 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
45
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography information
Pentax K100D S Landscape photography information
51
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse function
52
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FZ40
Vlogging with Pentax K100D S
23
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
heavier than competition (494 grams)
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax K100D S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax K100D S
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Pentax K100D Super
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Pentax K100D Super
Also called Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-07-21 2007-06-28
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 6MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
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 mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.50 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format AVCHD Lite -
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494 grams (1.09 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 129 x 91 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8")
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
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $420 $520