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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the FZ40 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") offer different sensor size.

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The FZ40 was released 3 years prior to the MX-1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summation of how the FZ40 scores vs the MX-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Pentax MX-1

 FZ40 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic FZ40

 MX-1 FZ40 
RevealedJuly 2013July 2010Newer by 35 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax MX-1

 FZ40 MX-1 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera often, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FZ40 features external dimensions 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 MX-1 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") and a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the FZ40 vs the MX-1.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FZ40 and MX-1 is 68 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by seeing specifications. The picture below may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ40 and MX-1.

Plainly, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FZ40 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Panasonic FZ40 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged FZ40 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography info
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography info
46
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
42
you can focus manually
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Street photography features
Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than others (494g)
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
small sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
43
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
good battery life (290 shots)
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography details
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography details
54
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (494 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
good battery life (290 shots)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (391g)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography highlights
51
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
saves RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse function
55
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FZ40
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
23
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
heavier than others (494g)
33
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no mic jack
heavier than others in class (391 grams)
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Pentax MX-1
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-07-21 2013-07-01
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.50 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494 gr (1.09 lb) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $420 $400