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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill 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
Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Superseded the Sigma SD1
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the FZ40 (14MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is relatively similar but the FZ40 (1/2.3") and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The FZ40 was unveiled 20 months prior to the SD1 Merrill which makes them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the FZ40 scores vs the SD1 Merrill in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 FZ40 SD1 Merrill 

Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Panasonic FZ40

 SD1 Merrill FZ40 
LaunchedApril 2012July 2010Fresher by 20 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Sigma SD1 Merrill

 FZ40 SD1 Merrill 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FZ40 provides outside measurements of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Sigma SD1 Merrill has proportions of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

See the Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the FZ40 vs the SD1 Merrill.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FZ40 and SD1 Merrill is 68 and 57 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ40 and SD1 Merrill.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FZ40 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sigma SD1 Merrill will deliver greater detail having an extra 1MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older FZ40 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography details
Sigma SD1 Merrill Portrait photography details
46
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
65
has manual focus
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Street photography info
Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography info
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (494g)
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography features
Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography features
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
61
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment proof
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography details
Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography details
54
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (494 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
environment proof
MP count decent (15MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography details
Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography details
51
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse mode
63
has manual focus
change lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
MP count decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Vlogging camera
23
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (494g)
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Sigma SD1 Merrill
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Sigma SD1 Merrill
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sigma
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Sigma SD1 Merrill
Other name Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-07-21 2012-04-10
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II Dual True II
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4800 x 3200
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sigma SA
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 76
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds -
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.50 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format AVCHD Lite -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494g (1.09 pounds) 790g (1.74 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible)
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $420 $2,339