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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II front
Portability
58
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II 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
  • Released July 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Sony RX10 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Launched June 2015
  • Superseded the Sony RX10
  • Replacement is Sony RX10 III
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony RX10 II, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and RX10 II (20MP) and the FZ40 (1/2.3") and RX10 II (1") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The FZ40 was revealed 5 years prior to the RX10 II and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving through a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the FZ40 matches up versus the RX10 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Sony RX10 II

 FZ40 RX10 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 II over the Panasonic FZ40

 RX10 II FZ40 
LaunchedJune 2015July 2010Fresher by 59 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k230kClearer screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony RX10 II

 FZ40 RX10 II 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ40 has outer dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") having a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Sony RX10 II has dimensions of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") and a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony RX10 II in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the FZ40 compared to the RX10 II.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FZ40 and RX10 II is 68 and 58 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ40 and RX10 II.

Clearly, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FZ40 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony RX10 II will render more detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older FZ40 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography advice
Sony RX10 II Portrait photography advice
46
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Street photography information
Sony RX10 II Street photography information
51
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (494g)
72
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW files
environment proofing
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography information
Sony RX10 II Sports photography information
43
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
68
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography information
Sony RX10 II Travel photography information
54
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (494 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX10 II as a Landscape photography camera
51
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
supports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of Timelapse function
62
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW files
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX10 II as a Vlogging camera
23
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competition (494 grams)
31
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with mic port
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Sony RX10 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
Alternative name Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-21 2015-06-10
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
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 - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-200mm (8.3x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/2.8
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 14.0 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 10.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 grams (1.09 lb) 813 grams (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life - 400 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $420 $998