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Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85

Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
 
Pentax Optio E85 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
10
Overall
25

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 Key Specs

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
  • Released January 2014
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS45
Pentax E85
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 32-96mm (F2.9-5.2) lens
  • 145g - 93 x 58 x 24mm
  • Released September 2009
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic ZS40 and Pentax E85, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the ZS40 (18MP) and E85 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS40 was released 4 years after the E85 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the ZS40 matches up against the E85 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Pentax E85

 ZS40 E85 
ReleasedJanuary 2014September 2009More modern by 53 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax E85 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E85 ZS40 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS40 and Pentax E85

 ZS40 E85 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS40 comes with external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) and the Pentax E85 has measurements of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS40 and Pentax E85 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the ZS40 and the E85.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS40 and E85 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The image underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS40 and E85.

As you have seen, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic ZS40 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more recent ZS40 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS40
Portrait photography with Pentax E85
52
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Street photography factors
Pentax E85 Street photography factors
69
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography factors
Pentax E85 Sports photography factors
54
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
17
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax E85 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax E85 as a Landscape photography camera
56
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse function
23
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
Vlogging with Pentax E85
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (240g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
22
wide angle not the best (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax E85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS40 and Pentax E85
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40Pentax Optio E85
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 Pentax Optio E85
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ60 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-01-06 2009-09-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 32-96mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.9-5.2
Macro focusing range 3cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 240 grams (0.53 pounds) 145 grams (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") 93 x 58 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 300 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI95
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $450 $0