Clicky

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 front
Portability
69
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Sony H50
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-465mm (F2.7-4.5) lens
  • 547g - 116 x 81 x 86mm
  • Released January 2009
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic FZ40 versus Sony H50, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and H50 (9MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The FZ40 was brought out 19 months later than the H50 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony H50 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the FZ40 grades against the H50 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Sony H50

 FZ40 H50 
ReleasedJuly 2010January 2009Fresher by 19 months

Reasons to pick Sony H50 over the Panasonic FZ40

 H50 FZ40 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony H50

 FZ40 H50 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ40 has physical dimensions 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 Sony H50 has specifications of 116mm x 81mm x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 547 grams (1.21 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FZ40 versus Sony H50 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the FZ40 and the H50.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the FZ40 and H50 is 68 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by checking specs. The graphic here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ40 and H50.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic FZ40 to give you greater detail having its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent FZ40 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography factors
Sony H50 Portrait photography factors
46
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
27
manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (9 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Street photography features
Sony H50 Street photography features
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (494g)
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than others (547g)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
Sports photography with Sony H50
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
32
great zoom range (31-465mm 15.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (9MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ40
Travel photography with Sony H50
54
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (494 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
44
built-in flash
great reach (465mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others (547 grams)
sensor resolution not great (9MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony H50 as a Landscape photography camera
51
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse mode
34
manual focus
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
sensor resolution not great (9 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging factors
Sony H50 Vlogging factors
23
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (494 grams)
19
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external mic jack
heavier than others (547g)
Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixels

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony H50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Sony H50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-07-21 2009-01-15
Body design 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 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 9 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
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
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 31-465mm (15.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/2.7-4.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 9.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
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) 640 x 480, 30 fps, 320 x 240, 8 fps
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format AVCHD Lite -
Mic 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 lbs) 547g (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 116 x 81 x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4")
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 - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $420 $80