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Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90

Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS45
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched February 2010
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Panasonic ZS40 versus Pentax W90, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS40 (18MP) and W90 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The ZS40 was announced 3 years later than the W90 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the ZS40 grades vs the W90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Pentax W90

 ZS40 W90 
LaunchedJanuary 2014February 2010More recent by 48 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Panasonic ZS40

 W90 ZS40 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS40 and Pentax W90

 ZS40 W90 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS40 enjoys external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) and the Pentax W90 has proportions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS40 versus Pentax W90 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the ZS40 and the W90.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS40 and W90 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing specifications. The visual below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS40 and W90.

To sum up, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS40 to result in more detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher ZS40 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography advice
Pentax W90 Portrait photography advice
52
manual focus
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
27
manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS40
Street photography with Pentax W90
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (240g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
54
weather proofing
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Sports photography camera
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
provides tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
24
weather proofing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography details
Pentax W90 Travel photography details
69
lighter than others in class (240g)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
64
weather proofing
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography advice
Pentax W90 Landscape photography advice
56
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse mode
37
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
weather proofing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
Vlogging with Pentax W90
34
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of mic support
25
decently wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS40 and Pentax W90
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 Pentax Optio W90
Alternate name Lumix DMC-TZ60 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2014-01-06 2010-02-24
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Prime
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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 240 gr (0.53 pounds) 164 gr (0.36 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $450 $120