Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony A77

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic ZS40 versus Sony A77, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the ZS40 (18MP) and A77 (24MP) and the ZS40 (1/2.3") and A77 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS40 was launched 2 years after the A77 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the ZS40 grades vs the A77 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 & Sony SLT-A77. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS40 Gallery & Sony A77 Gallery.

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS40 features physical measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) and the Sony A77 has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS40 versus Sony A77 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the ZS40 against the A77.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS40 and A77 is 90 and 59 respectively.

More often than not, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions merely by researching a spec sheet. The pic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS40 and A77.

As you can see, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The ZS40 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A77 will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern ZS40 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.