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Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Launched February 2014
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH5
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released January 2014
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS45
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Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic GH4 versus Panasonic ZS40, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Panasonic. The resolution of the GH4 (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is very comparable but the GH4 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH4 was introduced 2 months after the ZS40 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the GH4 matches up vs the ZS40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Panasonic ZS40

 GH4 ZS40 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1036k920kCrisper display (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Panasonic GH4

 ZS40 GH4 

Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Panasonic ZS40

 GH4 ZS40 
ReleasedFebruary 2014January 2014Same generation
Manual focus More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH4 offers physical measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH4 versus Panasonic ZS40 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the GH4 compared to the ZS40.

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GH4 and ZS40 is 66 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions simply by checking out a spec sheet. The pic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GH4 and ZS40.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GH4 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZS40 will produce extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
52
manual focus
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH4
Street photography with Panasonic ZS40
71
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch to focus
environment sealing
lighter than average in class (560 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (240 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography highlights
62
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
54
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography advice
77
lighter than average in class (560g)
environment sealing
offers touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition (240g)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
56
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH4
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
71
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
has face detect focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes mic port
lighter than average in class (560g)
lack of image stabilization
34
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (240 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have external mic socket
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Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Panasonic ZS40
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2014-02-07 2014-01-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IX Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,036 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology OLED TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dots 200 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 17.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 560g (1.23 lb) 240g (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 791 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photos 300 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $1,500 $450