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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 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
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released June 2010
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FZ40 versus Sony HX5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the FZ40 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") use different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ40 was unveiled 2 months later than the HX5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the FZ40 scores against the HX5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Sony HX5

 FZ40 HX5 
Focus manually More exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Panasonic FZ40

 HX5 FZ40 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony HX5

 FZ40 HX5 
ReleasedJuly 2010June 2010Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ40 has external measurements 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 HX5 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Panasonic FZ40 versus Sony HX5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the FZ40 versus the HX5.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FZ40 and HX5 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by going over technical specs. The visual here might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ40 and HX5.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FZ40 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FZ40 will deliver more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots much more aggressively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Portrait photography camera
46
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
19
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ40
Street photography with Sony HX5
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography advice
Sony HX5 Travel photography advice
54
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (494g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX5 Landscape photography highlights
51
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
exports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX5 as a Vlogging camera
23
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (494g)
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Sony HX5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-07-21 2010-06-16
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.50 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494g (1.09 pounds) 200g (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $420 $275