Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony HX5

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic ZS40 and Sony HX5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS40 (18MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the ZS40 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS40 was released 3 years later than the HX5 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the ZS40 scores versus the HX5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS40 Gallery & Sony HX5 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you should consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS40 has outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS40 and Sony HX5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS40 compared to the HX5.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZS40 and HX5 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements merely by viewing technical specs. The visual below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS40 and HX5.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZS40 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS40 will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more recent ZS40 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.