Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony W730

The following is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic ZS40 and Sony W730, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS40 (18MP) and the W730 (16MP) is very well matched and they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS40 was announced 13 months after the W730 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the ZS40 matches up against the W730 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic ZS40 Gallery & Sony W730 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS40 provides external 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 W730 has dimensions of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS40 and Sony W730 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS40 compared to the W730.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS40 and W730 is 90 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading through technical specs. The image underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS40 and W730.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS40 to resolve extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer ZS40 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.