Panasonic FZ40
- 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
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.
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.
F2.8-5.214MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic FZ40 Gallery
You can check the FZ40 from several angles in the gallery here.
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.
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.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe 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.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthTo get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.
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.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe following is a visual of the Panasonic FZ40 besides a soft drink so you can have a sense of its scale.
The top view here will provide the button layout on the FZ40.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.