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Panasonic FX48

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FX40
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28

Panasonic FX48 summary

Panasonic FX48 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Compact digital camera originally introduced on January of 2009. It uses a 12 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4000 x 3000. The camera is also known as "Lumix DMC-FX40" in other countries.

The FX48 is scored #210 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and over all #1174 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should look at our Smart camera finder to find camera listings based on your custom criteria.

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Below is a graph of various factors used in the rating system.

Panasonic FX48 history

The Panasonic FX48 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Listed below, you can take a look at all previous and more recent models as well as important specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH10 front thumbnailPanasonic FH10
FX48 vs FH10
26-130mm
F2.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-F5 front thumbnailPanasonic F5
FX48 vs F5
28-140mm
F3.2-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2013
Photography Glossary
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH8 front thumbnailPanasonic FH8
FX48 vs FH8
24-120mm
F2.5-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH6 front thumbnailPanasonic FH6
FX48 vs FH6
24-120mm
F2.5-6.4
14MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH7 front thumbnailPanasonic FH7
FX48 vs FH7
28-112mm
F3.1-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX90 front thumbnailPanasonic FX90
FX48 vs FX90
24-120mm
F2.5-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX78 front thumbnailPanasonic FX78
FX48 vs FX78
24-120mm
F2.5-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH25 front thumbnailPanasonic FH25
FX48 vs FH25
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH2 front thumbnailPanasonic FH2
FX48 vs FH2
28-112mm
F3.1-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH27 front thumbnailPanasonic FH27
FX48 vs FH27
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH5 front thumbnailPanasonic FH5
FX48 vs FH5
28-112mm
F3.1-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX700 front thumbnailPanasonic FX700
FX48 vs FX700
24-120mm
F2.2-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX75 front thumbnailPanasonic FX75
FX48 vs FX75
24-120mm
F2.2-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH1 front thumbnailPanasonic FH1
FX48 vs FH1
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH22 front thumbnailPanasonic FH22
FX48 vs FH22
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH20 front thumbnailPanasonic FH20
FX48 vs FH20
28-224mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FH3 front thumbnailPanasonic FH3
FX48 vs FH3
28-140mm
F2.8-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX580 front thumbnailPanasonic FX580
FX48 vs FX580
25-125mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX48 front thumbnailPanasonic FX4825-125mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FS25 front thumbnailPanasonic FS25
FX48 vs FS25
29-145mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ28 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ28
FX48 vs FZ28
27-486mm
F2.8-4.4
10MP1/2.3"2009

Panasonic FX48 Pros and Cons

Below is a shortlist of advantages and disadvantages of the Panasonic FX48 based on criterias that are often considered important in a digital camera.

above average minimum ISO (80)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
has built in flash
in built lens has zoom (25-125mm 5.0 x zoom)
rather wide (25mm)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
does not have external microphone socket
does not have HDMI socket
does not have headphone socket
does not have phase detect autofocus
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
external flash not possible
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of manual focus
max zoom aperture not good (f5.9)
MP count low (12MP)
no articulating screen
no shutter priority mode
pixelated screen (230 thousand dots)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
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Panasonic FX48 Sensor info

The measurement of the sensor in the Panasonic FX48 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels and aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization as the latter may produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 12MP and supports a standard ISO range of 80 - 3200. This ISO can also be extended digitally to a high of 6400. Unfortunately, RAW files are not supported therefore you have less margin for error.

The picture below illustrates the FX48's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The FX48 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is presented in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 sensor size Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic FX48 dimensions

Panasonic FX48 weighs 0.33 pounds (150 grams / 5.29 ounces) and features external size of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Panasonic FX48 is less heavy when compared to various competitors.

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Below is a visual of the Panasonic FX48 alongside a soft drink to help you have a feel for its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will provide the button arrangement on the FX48.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 topview buttons dials

Panasonic FX48 Lens info

The FX48 offers a fixed lens featuring a focal range of 25-125mm giving it a 5.0 x zoom which is definitely not significant but it will surely be helpful in a few situations.

At the widest 25mm, the lens will have an aperture of f2.8 making it quite slow and not ideal in low light occasions and you may find it hard to capture good bokeh. You will likely also need to up the ISO giving you noisy shots. On the tele end, 125mm comes at f5.9 making it fairly sluggish and you will need to use slower shutter speeds.

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Panasonic FX48 Connectivity

The FX48 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras that consist of NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can be used wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to transfer images and oftentimes alter camera settings with no need to connect straight to the camera.

Some applications even give a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not close to the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it can be attached to an external display. The majority of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Panasonic FX48 Video info

The max video resolution in the Panasonic FX48 is 640 x 480 and it can shoot in Motion JPEG file format. 480p is awful by today's standards. You really should strive for a minimum FUll HD resolution for good video. The camera does not have a mic or headphone port which means that you have little control over your sound. It is probably best to look into an alternative camera if you need decent sound in your videos.

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Panasonic FX48 Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing for the Panasonic FX48 so you need to be careful in rainy or dusty situations.

Panasonic FX48 Screen and Viewfinder

The Panasonic FX48 houses a 2.5 inch fixed screen supporting a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Please be aware that the screen offers no touch support.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 screen and viewfinder Photography Glossary

The View Finder specifications regarding Panasonic FX48 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be rather beneficial in bright outdoor situations which may make the camera screen washed out and hard to view.

Panasonic FX48 Shutter info

Panasonic FX48 has the ability to shoot continuously at 2.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/3000s.

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Panasonic FX48 Flash and Hot shoe info

Panasonic FX48 boasts only integrated flash with no external flash support.

Panasonic FX48 Autofocusing info

Panasonic FX48 boasts just Contrast Based AF and doesn't have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster & exact when compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detection which can be handy for portrait photography.

The Sensor boasts 11 focus points to choose from. Panasonic FX48 has no manual focusing. Manual focusing option is useful in low light or you want to have more exact control on focusing.

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Panasonic FX48 Battery life

The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the maximum (470) battery life in this group of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Small Sensor Compact cameras that come with the best battery life:

Panasonic FX48 for various kinds of photography

The following illustration indicates a rundown of the Panasonic FX48 for various kinds of photography. To learn more, scroll to the specific paragraph below.

Panasonic FX48 Portrait photography advice

The Panasonic FX48 gets a points tally of 27 which is low, meaning that it is not very good to use for portrait images. Shooting portrait images favors heavily to sensor dimensions, support for RAW files along with the option to work with external flash.

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includes face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support

Panasonic FX48 as a Street photography camera

Having a modest score of 56, the Panasonic FX48 is reasonably suitable to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera comes with a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support

Panasonic FX48 as a Sports photography camera

A low sports photography points tally of 25 indicates the Panasonic FX48 is not very good for photographing sports. A camera should have good tracking and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus

Panasonic FX48 Travel photography factors

Weight is really crucial when buying a travel camera. All round, the Panasonic FX48 gets a reasonable 58 as a travel camera which is fairly suited to purchase for your journeys.

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flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)

Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography details

In case you're looking to purchase a camera for landscape photographs, the most critical aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic FX48 with it's low score of 33 as a landscape camera is not very good amongst it's competitors.

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fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse recording

Panasonic FX48 Vlogging advice

A camera for vlogging should come with a moving screen, mic port and if possible image stabilization. Taking everything into account, the Panasonic FX48 is not very good for vlogging as it comes to a low rating of 30.

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rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic jack

Panasonic FX48 Alternatives

If you are shopping for alternatives to the FX48, here is a collection of the highest scored cameras which fall under the family of Small Sensor Compact.

The chart listed below gives you an overview of the FX48 compared to it's highest scored rivals shown previously.

Here are a handful of other cameras you might have a look at as alternative options. To check out a full comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

Photography Glossary

Specifications

General Information
Brand
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
Otherwise known as
Lumix DMC-FX40
Type
Small Sensor Compact
Announced
2009-01-27
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW pictures
Highest native ISO
3200
Highest enhanced ISO
6400
Min native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points
11
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range
5cm
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
2.5 inch
Screen resolution
230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
60 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/3000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate
2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
6.00 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
640x480
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
150 gr (0.33 pounds)
Dimensions
95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots
One
Launch pricing
$325