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Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ30
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Announced June 2015
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 V
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Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic LZ40 versus Sony RX100 IV, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the LZ40 (20MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is fairly well matched but the LZ40 (1/2.3") and RX100 IV (1") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The LZ40 was announced 17 months prior to the RX100 IV making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summary of how the LZ40 matches up against the RX100 IV when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Sony RX100 IV

 LZ40 RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Panasonic LZ40

 RX100 IV LZ40 
AnnouncedJune 2015January 2014Fresher by 17 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kClearer display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic LZ40 and Sony RX100 IV

 LZ40 RX100 IV 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic LZ40 features exterior measurements of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs) and the Sony RX100 IV has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic LZ40 versus Sony RX100 IV in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the LZ40 compared to the RX100 IV.

Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the LZ40 and RX100 IV is 67 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking technical specs. The photograph here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the LZ40 and RX100 IV.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizing. The LZ40 features the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging. The older LZ40 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography factors
40
good MP (20 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
good MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Street photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Street photography advice
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than average in class (524 grams)
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LZ40
Sports photography with Sony RX100 IV
47
great zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
68
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (16.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
offers tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Travel photography details
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography details
55
good MP (20MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (22mm)
great zoom (924mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (524g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
86
lighter than competitors in class (298g)
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
decently wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Landscape photography details
Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography details
44
fairly wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
74
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ40 Vlogging features
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging features
27
fairly wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
comes with external mic port
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
heavier than average in class (524 grams)
81
decently wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (298 grams)
doesn't have mic support
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Panasonic LZ40 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ40 and Sony RX100 IV
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-01-06 2015-06-10
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
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 5152 x 3864 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 22-924mm (42.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 16.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 524g (1.16 lb) 298g (0.66 lb)
Dimensions 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 562
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 280 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $219 $898