Clicky

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Pentax Optio W80 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 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
  • Released July 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
Pentax W80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 156g - 100 x 56 x 25mm
  • Revealed June 2009
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax W80, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the W80 (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The FZ40 was manufactured 14 months after the W80 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the FZ40 grades versus the W80 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Pentax W80

 FZ40 W80 
RevealedJuly 2010June 2009More modern by 14 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Pentax W80 over the Panasonic FZ40

 W80 FZ40 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax W80

 FZ40 W80 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ40 offers exterior measurements 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 Pentax W80 has specifications of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax W80 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the FZ40 versus the W80.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ40 and W80 is 68 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by checking specs. The pic below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ40 and W80.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic FZ40 to give more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more modern FZ40 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography features
Pentax W80 Portrait photography features
46
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Street photography details
Pentax W80 Street photography details
51
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than others (494 grams)
54
environment proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
Sports photography with Pentax W80
43
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
24
environment proofing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ40
Travel photography with Pentax W80
54
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than others (494g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
environment proofing
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography advice
Pentax W80 Landscape photography advice
51
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no Timelapse function
37
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging details
Pentax W80 Vlogging details
23
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
more heavy than others (494 grams)
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic socket
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Pentax W80
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Pentax Optio W80
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Pentax Optio W80
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-07-21 2009-06-25
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.50 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494 gr (1.09 lbs) 156 gr (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 100 x 56 x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - D-LI78
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $420 $250