Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax P80

Let's look more in depth at the Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax P80, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS40 (18MP) and P80 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS40 was released 4 years later than the P80 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the ZS40 grades vs the P80 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 & Pentax Optio P80. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic ZS40 Gallery & Pentax P80 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS40 features exterior dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) and the Pentax P80 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax P80 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the ZS40 and the P80.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS40 and P80 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Typically, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The photograph here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS40 and P80.

Plainly, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic ZS40 to result in more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger ZS40 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.