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Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
58
Features
76
Overall
65

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Launched January 2014
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS35
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS45
Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Refreshed by Sony A6000
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Panasonic ZS40 versus Sony NEX-6, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS40 (18MP) and the NEX-6 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the ZS40 (1/2.3") and NEX-6 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS40 was revealed 10 months after the NEX-6 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the ZS40 grades versus the NEX-6 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Sony NEX-6

 ZS40 NEX-6 
LaunchedJanuary 2014March 2013Newer by 10 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Panasonic ZS40

 NEX-6 ZS40 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS40 and Sony NEX-6

 ZS40 NEX-6 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS40 has exterior measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) and the Sony NEX-6 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS40 versus Sony NEX-6 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the ZS40 and the NEX-6.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS40 and NEX-6 is 90 and 85 respectively.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS40 and NEX-6.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The ZS40 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic ZS40 will show more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The younger ZS40 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography info
52
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Street photography features
Sony NEX-6 Street photography features
69
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (240g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
78
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (345 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Sports photography camera
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
66
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition (240g)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
75
lighter than competitors in class (345 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS40
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-6
56
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse function
75
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (240g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no external mic socket
32
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (345g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no external mic support
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS40 and Sony NEX-6
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40Sony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 Sony Alpha NEX-6
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ60 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2014-01-06 2013-03-25
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4896 x 3672 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 99
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD with AR coating Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 240g (0.53 lb) 345g (0.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1018
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 360 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $450 $365