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Panasonic FZ40

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Panasonic FZ40 summary

Panasonic FZ40 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Superzoom camera first revealed on July of 2010. It has got a 14 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4320 x 3240. The camera is also known as "Lumix DMC-FZ45" in certain markets.

The FZ40 is ranked #166 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and overall #793 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should check out our Advanced camera finder to see camera results based on your custom factors.

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The following is a diagram of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Panasonic FZ40 family

The Panasonic FZ40 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Down below, you can discover all previous and more recent models as well as main specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ80 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ80
FZ40 vs FZ80
20-1200mm
F2.8-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2017
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ300 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ300
FZ40 vs FZ300
25-600mm
F2.8
12MP1/2.3"2015
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ70 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ70
FZ40 vs FZ70
20-1200mm
F2.8-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ200 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ200
FZ40 vs FZ200
25-600mm
F2.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ60 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ60
FZ40 vs FZ60
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
16MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ150 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ150
FZ40 vs FZ150
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
12MP1/2.3"2012
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ47 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ47
FZ40 vs FZ47
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ40 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ4025-600mm
F2.8-5.2
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ100 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ100
FZ40 vs FZ100
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ35 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ35
FZ40 vs FZ35
27-486mm
F2.8-4.4
12MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ28 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ28
FZ40 vs FZ28
27-486mm
F2.8-4.4
10MP1/2.3"2009
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FZ40 Pros and Cons

Below is a selection of pluses and minuses of the Panasonic FZ40 based on criterias that are generally considered crucial in a camera.

above average minimum ISO (80)
decently wide (25mm)
flash built-in
has manual focus
image stabilization (Optical)
includes HDMI socket
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
supports RAW formats
very long reach (600mm)
cannot use external flash
does not have phase detect AF
does not offer selfie friendly display
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
max zoom aperture not good (f5.2)
more heavy than competition in class (494 grams)
no headphone socket
no microphone socket
no Timelapse mode
pixelated screen (230 k dots)
screen does not articulate
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Panasonic FZ40 Sensor details

The Panasonic FZ40 is run by the Venus Engine HD II processor chip. The dimension of the sensor in the Panasonic FZ40 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 4320 x 3240 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter may produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 14 megapixels and provides a native ISO range of 80 - 6400. RAW format is saved so the user has wider room to maneuver in post.

The picture below shows the FZ40's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The FZ40 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is outlined in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 sensor size Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic FZ40 dimensions

Panasonic FZ40 is 1.09 lb (494 gr or 17.43 oz) and features outside measurements of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr so the Panasonic FZ40 is heavier when compared to its rivals.

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The following is a visual of the Panasonic FZ40 besides a soft drink so you can have a sense of its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 dimensions scale

The top view here will provide the button layout on the FZ40.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 topview buttons dials

Panasonic FZ40 Lens specs

The FZ40 includes a built-in lens featuring a focal range of 25-600mm making it a 24.0 x zoom which is significant and would make it easier to zoom right in.

At the widest 25mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.8 which is quite slow and not very good in low light circumstances and you will find it hard to capture good bokeh. You will likely also need to boost the ISO which causes noisy photographs. On the tele end, 600mm is terrific zoom and comes with f5.2 which is pretty slow and you will need to use slow shutter speeds.

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Panasonic FZ40 Connectivity

The FZ40 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that incorporate NFC or Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly via smartphones. You will be able to send photos and usually alter camera settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.

A few applications even enable a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not near the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it can easily be hooked up to an external monitor. The majority of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack with the USB socket.

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Panasonic FZ40 Video specs

The max video resolution in the Panasonic FZ40 is 1280 x 720 and it can shoot in AVCHD Lite format. 720p is awful by today's standards. You really should shoot for at least FUll HD resolution for good video. The camera does not have a mic or headphone jack so you have little control over your sound. It is perhaps a better idea to look into an alternative camera in case you require decent sound in your video clips.

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Panasonic FZ40 Weather Sealing

Panasonic FZ40 does not include environment sealing so rainy conditions can easily damage the camera.

Panasonic FZ40 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic FZ40 has got a 3" fixed display screen supporting a resolution of 230k dots.

Sadly the display screen is not a touch screen.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 screen and viewfinder Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The View Finder specifications regarding Panasonic FZ40 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic

Viewfinders are quite useful for bright outdoor situations which will make the camera display washed out and very difficult to view.

Panasonic FZ40 Shutter specs

Panasonic FZ40 is able to shoot continuously at 2.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000s.

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Panasonic FZ40 Flash and Hot shoe specs

Panasonic FZ40 includes only built-in flash with no external flash support.

Panasonic FZ40 Autofocus specs

Panasonic FZ40 includes just Contrast Based AF and doesn't have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more faster and accurate when compared to Contrast Based focusing.

Panasonic FZ40 features manual focusing when required for low light occasions or you want more accurate control on focusing.

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Panasonic FZ40 Battery life

The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the maximum (600) battery life for this type of cameras.

Following is a listing of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the strongest battery life:

Panasonic FZ40 for specific styles of photography

The following illustration shows a outline of the Panasonic FZ40 for specific styles of photography. To learn more, browse to the specific section below.

Panasonic FZ40 as a Portrait photography camera

The Panasonic FZ40 has a points tally of 46 which is moderate, meaning that it is reasonably acceptable to use for portraits. Taking portraits leans heavily to sensor specs, support for RAW photos along with the flexibility to work with external flash.

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you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")

Panasonic FZ40 Street photography highlights

Having a modest points total of 51, the Panasonic FZ40 is somewhat acceptable to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera features a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (494g)

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40

A really bad sports photography rating of 43 indicates the Panasonic FZ40 is not suitable for shooting sports. A camera really should have great autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography features

Portability is very critical when selecting a travel camera. Over-all, the Panasonic FZ40 gets a reasonable 54 as a travel camera which is fairly suited for your holidays.

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good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (494 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)

Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography factors

For anyone looking to purchase a digital camera for landscape photos, the most vital factor is going to be image quality. The Panasonic FZ40 at it's modest score of 51 as a landscape camera is somewhat suited within the current marketplace.

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you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse recording

Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera

A camera for vlogging ought to posses a articulating screen, mic input and if possible image stabilization. Considering everything, the Panasonic FZ40 is not suitable as a vlog camera as it delivers a really bad score of 23.

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decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than average (494 grams)

Panasonic FZ40 Alternatives

If you are interested in replacements to the FZ40, below is a selection of the highest rated cameras which fall within the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart listed below provides you a summary of the FZ40 compared to it's highest scoring rivals suggested previously.

Following are several cameras you might regard as alternative options. To read a comprehensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also referred to as
Lumix DMC-FZ45
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Released
2010-07-21
Physical type
SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Processor Chip
Venus Engine HD II
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution
4320 x 3240
RAW format
Max native ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture
f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance
1cm
Crop factor
5.9
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display sizing
3 inches
Resolution of display
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
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
1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate
2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
9.50 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
AVCHD Lite
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
494 grams (1.09 lb)
Dimensions
120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots
Single
Retail pricing
$420