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Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33

Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 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
  • Released January 2014
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS45
Sony A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A35
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic ZS40 versus Sony A33, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the ZS40 (18MP) and A33 (14MP) and the ZS40 (1/2.3") and A33 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The ZS40 was manufactured 3 years later than the A33 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the ZS40 matches up versus the A33 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Sony A33

 ZS40 A33 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014August 2010More recent by 42 months

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Panasonic ZS40

 A33 ZS40 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS40 and Sony A33

 ZS40 A33 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS40 enjoys exterior 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) whilst the Sony A33 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS40 versus Sony A33 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the ZS40 against the A33.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS40 and A33 is 90 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements only by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS40 and A33.

Clearly, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS40 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic ZS40 will render extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The fresher ZS40 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS40
Portrait photography with Sony A33
52
you can focus manually
MP count decent (18MP)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
72
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Street photography info
Sony A33 Street photography info
69
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
76
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography advice
Sony A33 Sports photography advice
54
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (340 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography factors
Sony A33 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competition in class (240g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
61
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (340 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography advice
Sony A33 Landscape photography advice
56
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse mode
67
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (340 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
Vlogging with Sony A33
34
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (240g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
77
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS40 and Sony A33
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 Sony SLT-A33
Alternate name Lumix DMC-TZ60 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-01-06 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dots 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 240g (0.53 lb) 500g (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 591
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 340 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $450 $230