• 1/2.33 inch 28.2mm2
  • 14.1 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 600.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 200.00mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Differences

Panasonic DMC-FZ40 advantages over Sony RX10 II

  • More telephoto lens reach
    600 mm vs 200 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 580 vs 400 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Lighter weight
    498g vs 849g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony RX10 II advantages over Panasonic DMC-FZ40

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    1 inch vs 1/2.33 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 2.41 vs 1.42 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 720p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    9 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1229k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    20.2 vs 14.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    14.2 fps vs 1.8 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    44 vs 5 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent build quality; Superb viewfinder; Excellent image and video quality for its class; Bright and versatile zoom lens; Very fast autofocus; Great burst performance and depth; Incredible slow-motion capabilities; Really intuitive Wi-Fi image transfer; Good battery life.

  • Expensive compared to its nearest competitors; Less zoom reach than rivals; Soft in corners wide-open; Slow buffer clearing; Small rear control dial has poor tactile feedback; Long delay to render each high frame-rate movie; No tilt/swivel or touch on the LCD panel.

The Competition

Compared to Nikon P90

Panasonic DMC-FZ40
Nikon P90
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • RAW file ability
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
Sony RX10 II
Nikon P90
  • $998
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Lighter weight

Compared to Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Panasonic DMC-FZ40
Panasonic DMC-FZ100
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $500
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Hot shoe
Sony RX10 II
Panasonic DMC-FZ100
  • $998
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $500
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Lighter weight

Compared to Panasonic FZ47

Panasonic DMC-FZ40
Panasonic FZ47
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • RAW file ability
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
Sony RX10 II
Panasonic FZ47
  • $998
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Lighter weight

Compared to Sony RX10

Panasonic DMC-FZ40
Sony RX10
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $698
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony RX10 II
Sony RX10
  • $998
  • 1 inch
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $698
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive

Compared to Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Panasonic DMC-FZ40
Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Thinner
  • $899
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony RX10 II
Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)
  • $998
  • 1 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Integrated ND filter
  • $899
  • 1 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Longer exposure
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