Panasonic FZ40 vs Pentax W80

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").

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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.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 & Pentax Optio W80. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic FZ40 Gallery & Pentax W80 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.