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Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Announced October 2009
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF2
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS45
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Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the GF1 (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the GF1 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The GF1 was introduced 5 years earlier than the ZS40 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the GF1 matches up against the ZS40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Panasonic ZS40

 GF1 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Panasonic GF1

 ZS40 GF1 
RevealedJanuary 2014October 2009Fresher by 51 months
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic ZS40

 GF1 ZS40 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF1 has got physical dimensions of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS40 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 in our brand 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 use during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the GF1 and the ZS40.

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF1 and ZS40 is 85 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The visual below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF1 and ZS40.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GF1 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS40 will give you more detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older GF1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
52
focusing manually
decent MP (18MP)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF1
Street photography with Panasonic ZS40
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
69
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average (240 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Sports photography camera
44
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 CIPA)
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography highlights
59
good battery life (380 CIPA)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (240g)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (380 shots)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
56
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging advice
25
comes with face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (240g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
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Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic ZS40
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-10-14 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385g (0.85 lb) 240g (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 513 not tested
Other
Battery life 380 shots 300 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $400 $450