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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
54
Features
82
Overall
65

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV 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
  • Announced July 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Revealed September 2017
  • Superseded the Sony RX10 III
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony RX10 IV, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and RX10 IV (20MP) and the FZ40 (1/2.3") and RX10 IV (1") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ40 was manufactured 8 years before the RX10 IV which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the FZ40 grades vs the RX10 IV in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Sony RX10 IV

 FZ40 RX10 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Panasonic FZ40

 RX10 IV FZ40 
RevealedSeptember 2017July 2010Newer by 87 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k230kClearer screen (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony RX10 IV

 FZ40 RX10 IV 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ40 has got outside measurements of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and the Sony RX10 IV has specifications of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") and a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FZ40 and Sony RX10 IV in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the FZ40 against the RX10 IV.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FZ40 and RX10 IV is 68 and 52 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ40 and RX10 IV.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FZ40 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony RX10 IV will offer greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged FZ40 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Portrait photography camera
46
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
72
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ40
Street photography with Sony RX10 IV
51
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (494 grams)
64
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
has focus by touch
environment proofing
heavier than competition in class (1,095 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
Sports photography with Sony RX10 IV
43
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
77
incredible zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (24.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
features tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX10 IV Travel photography highlights
54
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (494 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
57
environment proofing
has bluetooth
has focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (1,095g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography info
Sony RX10 IV Landscape photography info
51
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse function
63
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging factors
Sony RX10 IV Vlogging factors
23
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
heavier than competition in class (494 grams)
29
pretty wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has mic socket
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (1,095g)
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Sony RX10 IV
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Other name Lumix DMC-FZ45 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-07-21 2017-09-12
Physical type 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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 315
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000s
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494g (1.09 lbs) 1095g (2.41 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 400 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $420 $1,698