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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 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
  • Launched July 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony HX200V
  • New Model is Sony HX400V
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and HX300 (20MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FZ40 was released 3 years prior to the HX300 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick view of how the FZ40 grades versus the HX300 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Sony HX300

 FZ40 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Panasonic FZ40

 HX300 FZ40 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013July 2010More modern by 31 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony HX300

 FZ40 HX300 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ40 comes with outer dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") along with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and the Sony HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony HX300 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the FZ40 against the HX300.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ40 and HX300 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing specs. The picture here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ40 and HX300.

All in all, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Sony HX300 to render greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged FZ40 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ40
Portrait photography with Sony HX300
46
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
43
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ40
Street photography with Sony HX300
51
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (494g)
50
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than others (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography advice
Sony HX300 Sports photography advice
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Travel photography camera
54
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (494g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
good resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than others (623 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Landscape photography camera
51
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no Timelapse function
49
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging features
Sony HX300 Vlogging features
23
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone support
more heavy than competition (494g)
25
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than others (623 grams)
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Sony HX300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-07-21 2013-02-20
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494g (1.09 lb) 623g (1.37 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
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)) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal -
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $420 $339