Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the FZ40 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) provide different sensor sizes.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The FZ40 was manufactured 9 years before the HX99 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX99 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the FZ40 scores against the HX99 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic FZ40 Gallery & Sony HX99 Gallery.

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ40 has physical dimensions 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 Sony HX99 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the FZ40 and the HX99.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ40 and HX99 is 68 and 91 respectively.

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The picture here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ40 and HX99.

Clearly, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FZ40 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony HX99 will show more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged FZ40 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.