Canon 40D has a
10.0MP APS-C (22.2 x 14.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic G10 has a
12.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine HD II processor.
Below you can see the 40D and G10 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon 40D and Panasonic G10 Cameras
As seen above, Canon 40D has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Panasonic G10. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Canon 40D and Panasonic G10 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, 40D has scored 64, 12 points higher than G10.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Canon 40D
64
22.1 bits
11.3 Evs
703 ISO
Panasonic G10
52
21.2 bits
10.1 Evs
411 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Canon 40D
or the
Panasonic G10 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(APS-C versus Four Thirds),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
