Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5
68 Imaging
37 Features
40 Overall
38


92 Imaging
33 Features
30 Overall
31
Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic FZ40 Gallery & Sony HX5 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | July 2010 | ![]() | June 2010 | Similar age |
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical screen sizing |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | The 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX5 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 | Sony 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 |