Fujifilm FinePix
HS20
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ40

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

83
"If all-in-one convenience tops your priorities then the HS20 certainly ticks a lot of boxes and is well worth a look."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the HS20's overall-performance
"the sensor-shift image stabilisation does a noteworthy job of compensating for camera shake at long focal lengths."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the HS20's image-stabilization

Reasons to buy the Fujifilm FinePix HS20

High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
320 fps
True resolution
 High true resolution
10.6 MP
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

60
"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
"The Sonic Speed AF in the FZ45 features its speed at the industry's fastest level. Combined with a high-speed start-up, this gives the FZ45 an industry's fastest level of response that helps to catch even the most fleeting photo opportunities."
dpreview.com | talking about the DMC-FZ40's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 120x79x91 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Thickness
 Thin
3.6"
Weight
 Light-weight
499 g
Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Fujifilm HS20
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The HS20's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
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
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Zoom Significantly more zoom 30x vs 24x
Help
 Around 60% more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 320 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 10.6 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 8 fps vs 1.8 fps
Help
 Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Wide angle Better wide angle 24 mm vs 25 mm
Help
 Almost the same
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Sensor size Larger sensor 1/2" 6.4x4.8mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Lowest price Cheaper $299.00 vs $410.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $112 cheaper (around 30% less)
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR Learn more about
the Fujifilm HS20

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ40
Size Much smaller 120x79x91 mm vs 130x90x126 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Weight Significantly lighter 499 g vs 730 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.6" vs 5"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ40
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR Fujifilm FinePix HS20
83 vs 60
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Zoom Incredible zoom Help
HS20:30x
DMC-FZ40:24x
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
HS20:24 mm
DMC-FZ40:25 mm
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
HS20:30s
DMC-FZ40:60s
Thickness Quite thick Help
HS20:5"
DMC-FZ40:3.6"
Weight Heavy Help
HS20:730 g
DMC-FZ40:499 g
Lowest price Very expensive Help
HS20:$299.00
DMC-FZ40:$410.99
Size Large Help
HS20:130x90x126 mm
DMC-FZ40:120x79x91 mm
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the FinePix HS20
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the FinePix HS20
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the FinePix HS20
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$569
High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the FinePix HS10 vs the FinePix HS20
Compare the FinePix HS10 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX100v vs the FinePix HS20
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX100v vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48

Super zoom

$370 - $426
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ48 vs the FinePix HS20
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ48 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the D3100 vs the FinePix HS20
Compare the D3100 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm FinePix HS25 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS25 EXR

Super zoom

$349 - $400
3D Takes 3D photos
HDR Has in-camera HDR
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the FinePix HS25 EXR vs the FinePix HS20
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500
3D Takes 3D photos
Battery life Much longer battery life
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Size Larger
Compare the FinePix HS30 EXR vs the FinePix HS20

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Leica V-Lux 2

Leica V-Lux 2

Super zoom

$1,101
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor
Lowest price Much more expensive
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Compare the V-Lux 2 vs the Lumix DMC-FZ40

appearance

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for Daniel Knight Daniel Knight (1:18 PM, August 27, 2011)
This is not an accurate review, the HS20 is prone to quickly accumulating dust under the lens, mine was terrible after a month. Further there is a software glitch: if you have the sound turned off you cannot use the flash.
 
Ulong (3:52 PM, June 29, 2011)
I tried FZ40 for a couple of weeks before I returned it, the IQ was just not impressive, I hope IQ of HS20 EXR is better.