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Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300

Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS45
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX200V
  • Renewed by Sony HX400V
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Panasonic ZS40 versus Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZS40 (18MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is very comparable and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS40 was manufactured 11 months later than the HX300 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the ZS40 grades versus the HX300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Sony HX300

 ZS40 HX300 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014February 2013More recent by 11 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Panasonic ZS40

 HX300 ZS40 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS40 and Sony HX300

 ZS40 HX300 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS40 provides physical dimensions 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 Sony HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS40 versus Sony HX300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the ZS40 and the HX300.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the ZS40 and HX300 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by checking out specifications. The visual underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS40 and HX300.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony HX300 to show extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher ZS40 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX300 Portrait photography highlights
52
has manual focus
MP count decent (18MP)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
42
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Street photography details
Sony HX300 Street photography details
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (240g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competitors (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Sports photography camera
54
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
55
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX300 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than competitors in class (240g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
54
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (623g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Landscape photography camera
56
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
48
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX300 as a Vlogging camera
34
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (240 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic port
25
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competitors (623g)
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS40 and Sony HX300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ60 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2014-01-06 2013-02-20
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m -
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 240 gr (0.53 lbs) 623 gr (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal -
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $450 $339