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

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Differences

Panasonic DMC-FZ40 advantages over Sony RX10 III

  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 580 vs 420 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    91 mm vs 127 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    498g vs 1095g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony RX10 III 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
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/2.4 vs f/2.8
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • 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
  • 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
    20.1 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
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter

User reviews

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Buy the Panasonic DMC-FZ40

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony RX10 III
Sony RX10 III
All RX10 III Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Versatile all-in-one replacement for a DSLR or mirrorless camera; Great handling and build; Excellent image quality; Spectacular zoom reach; Swift performance with generous buffer depths; Extremely capable video capture; Comprehensive remote control; Quick-and-easy image sharing

  • Extremely expensive for a fixed-lens camera; Fairly heavy for fixed-lens camera; Somewhat soft in the corners at wide-angle or tele; Noise reduction intrudes at higher sensitivities; No built-in ND filter; Not as fast when shooting raws; Slow buffer clearing

  • Read our Sony RX10 III Review

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

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ40 vs Nikon P90

Sony RX10 III
Nikon P90
  • $1398
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Lighter weight

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Nikon P90

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

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ40 vs Panasonic DMC-FZ100

Sony RX10 III
Panasonic DMC-FZ100
  • $1398
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $500
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Thinner
  • Lighter weight

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Panasonic DMC-FZ100

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

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ40 vs Panasonic FZ47

Sony RX10 III
Panasonic FZ47
  • $1398
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Thinner
  • Lighter weight

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Panasonic FZ47

Compared to Panasonic FZ2500

Panasonic DMC-FZ40
Panasonic FZ2500
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $899
  • 1 inch
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ40 vs Panasonic FZ2500

Sony RX10 III
Panasonic FZ2500
  • $1398
  • 1 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $899
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Panasonic FZ2500

Compared to Sony RX10 IV

Panasonic DMC-FZ40
Sony RX10 IV
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Thinner
  • $1698
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic DMC-FZ40 vs Sony RX10 IV

Sony RX10 III
Sony RX10 IV
  • $1398
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • $1698
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Sony RX10 IV

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