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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 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
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched September 2018
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Sony HX99

 FZ40 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Panasonic FZ40

 HX99 FZ40 
LaunchedSeptember 2018July 2010More modern by 98 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony HX99

 FZ40 HX99 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display size3"3.00"Same display dimensions

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

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

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX99 Portrait photography factors
46
you can focus manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
53
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ40
Street photography with Sony HX99
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than others (494 grams)
77
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography advice
Sony HX99 Sports photography advice
43
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
58
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery power (360 shots)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ40
Travel photography with Sony HX99
54
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (494 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
great battery power (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse function
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography info
Sony HX99 Landscape photography info
51
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
58
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3.00 inch)
has image stabilization
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
exports RAW files
great battery power (360 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging advice
Sony HX99 Vlogging advice
23
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than others (494g)
76
really wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization
supports face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no external mic jack
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Sony HX99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-07-21 2018-09-01
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3.00"
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.50 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD Lite AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 494 gr (1.09 lbs) 242 gr (0.53 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 life - 360 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $420 $469