Canon PowerShot
SX20 IS
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ40

Updated (July, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

63
"It also compiles the Intelligent Resolution technology to perform the optimum signal processing depending on the part of a picture to give a whole image outstandingly natural clearness with fine details."
dpreview.com | talking about the DMC-FZ40's image-quality
"The manual control of FZ45 elevates the operability even higher with the incorporation of new jog dial."
dpreview.com | talking about the DMC-FZ40's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
6,400 ISO
Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

58

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/3200 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX20 IS
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
 Almost the same
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
Help
 Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.4" vs 3.6"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX20 IS

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ40
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Wide angle Better wide angle 25 mm vs 28 mm
Help
 More than 10% better wide angle
Zoom More zoom 24x vs 20x
Help
 More than 40% more zoom
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Size Smaller 120x79x91 mm vs 128x88x87 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Weight Lighter 499 g vs 600 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 1.8 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
 More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ40
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
58 vs 63
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonPowerShot SX20 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX20 IS vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
PanasonicLumix DMC-FZ40
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
1
2
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
3
Vote Vote
Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
0
3
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
4
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
3
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
3
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
3
Vote Vote
Performance Image stabilization
Ability to reduce blur from hand shake
0
3
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Zoom Great zoom Help
SX20 IS:20x
DMC-FZ40:24x
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
SX20 IS:0 cm
DMC-FZ40:1 cm
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX20 IS:3.4"
DMC-FZ40:3.6"
Weight Heavy Help
SX20 IS:600 g
DMC-FZ40:499 g
Size Large Help
SX20 IS:128x88x87 mm
DMC-FZ40:120x79x91 mm
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1,600 ISO
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
SX20 IS:0.7 fps
DMC-FZ40:1.8 fps
Zoom Poor zoom Help
SX20 IS:20x
DMC-FZ40:24x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$339 - $350
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$310 - $475
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$227 - $230
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$379
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Super zoom

$400
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Wide angle Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ35 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ35 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Image stabilization Has worse image stabilization
Compare the Coolpix P100 vs the PowerShot SX20 IS
Compare the Coolpix P100 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Super zoom
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the PowerShot SX10 IS vs the PowerShot SX20 IS

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48

Super zoom

$418 - $492
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ48 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$469 - $470
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Slightly larger
Longest exposure Significantly shorter max exposures
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ150 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Super zoom

$611 - $657
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Slightly larger
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ100 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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