CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison
  • BRANDS
    • Sony Cameras
    • Canon Cameras
    • Nikon Cameras
    • Pentax Cameras
    • Fujifilm Cameras
    • Olympus Cameras
    • Panasonic Cameras
    • Leica Cameras
    • Samsung Cameras
  • BODY TYPE
    • Mirrorless Cameras
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Compact Cameras
    • Bridge Cameras
    • Waterproof Cameras

Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS40 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Sony S930

10 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Sony S930
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Panasonic ZS40

18 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic ZS40
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS40 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Sony and Panasonic. Sony S930 was introduced to market in January 2009 and Panasonic ZS40 was launched in January 2014. As you can see, S930 is 5 years older than ZS40. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Sony S930 has a 10.0 MP and Panasonic ZS40 has a 18.0 MP resolution.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony S930 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-01-08
  • 10MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 38-108 mm F2.9-5.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.4" Fixed Type Screen
  • 2 fps continuous shooting
  • - 320 x 240 video resolution
  • 167g. 90 x 61 x 26 mm

Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-01-06
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 200k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 240g. 111 x 64 x 34 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 Compare

Panasonic ZS40 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 (Lumix DMC-TZ60)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Weight
167 g vs 240 g 73 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
2.90 vs 3.30 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.40 vs 6.40 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.81µm2 vs 1.56µm2 80% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 10 MP 80% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
23 vs 9 14 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.4" 0.6 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
920k dots vs 112k dots 719% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 2.0fps 8 fps faster
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 38mm 14 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 108mm 612 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
30× vs 2.8× more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
6.4m vs 3.0m 3.4m longer range
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 320 x 240 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS40: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony S930 has external dimensions of 90 x 61 x 26 mm (3.54 x 2.4 x 1.02″) and weighs 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic ZS40 has external dimensions of 111 x 64 x 34 mm (4.37 x 2.52 x 1.34″) and weighs 240 g (0.53 lb / 8.47 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40. Sony S930 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 21mm narrower, 3mm shorter and 8mm thinner than Panasonic ZS40.

Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS40 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony S930 is significantly lighter (73g ) than the Panasonic ZS40 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S930
ZS40
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S930
ZS40
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 (Lumix DMC-TZ60) provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic ZS40's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony S930's 2.4" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS40: Sensor Comparison

Sony S930 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic ZS40 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Panasonic ZS40's sensor provides 8MP more than Sony S930's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the S930 and ZS40 sensor size comparison.

Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40 Cameras


Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Sony S930 has 80% larger pixel area compared to Panasonic ZS40, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS40 Lens Specs Comparison

Sony S930 features a 38-108 mm F2.9-5.4 2.8× zoom lens whereas Panasonic ZS40 features a 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 30× zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS40 has 14mm wider coverage than the Sony S930. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.90, Sony S930 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS40 has 612mm longer telezoom reach than the Sony S930. However, with a max aperture of f5.40, Sony S930 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S930
ZS40
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S930
ZS40
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S930
ZS40
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S930
ZS40
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony S930 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony S930 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS40 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
38 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Sony S930 for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
108 mm Tele Lens
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
23 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details

Sony S930 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS40 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
167g
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
2.8X Optical Zoom
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
240g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Sony S930 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
38 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS40: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS40 scores compare:

Sony S930
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #425 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1129 out of 1226 in all Cameras
Panasonic ZS40
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #35 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #412 out of 1226 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS40 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony S930 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Sony S930. Otherwise, Panasonic ZS40 is the better camera overall.

Sony S930
Sony S930
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Panasonic ZS40
Panasonic ZS40
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony S930 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Brand Sony Panasonic
Announced 2009-01-08 2014-01-06
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CCD CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 6400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 38-108 mm (2.8×) 24-720 mm (30×)
Max Aperture F2.9-5.4 F3.3-6.4
Macro Focus Range 5cm 3cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.4" 3"
Resolution 112k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 200k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.00 m (Auto ISO) 6.40 m
Max Flash Sync s n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 320 x 240 1920 x 1080
Video Formats Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 167g 240g
Dimensions 90 x 61 x 26mm 111 x 64 x 34mm
Battery Life n/a 300 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Nikon Z7
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Sony A6000
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7 III
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Fujifilm X-T3
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R
30 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A6400
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Nikon D5600
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Nikon D850
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Top Rated Compact Cameras
Top Cameras Under $200
Top Compact Cameras Under $500
Top Compact Cameras Under $750
Top Compact Cameras Under $1000
Latest Cameras
Pentax K-m
10 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Pentax K-3 III
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Sigma fp L
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Fujifilm GFX 100S
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Fujifilm X-E4
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Sony a1
50 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Leica SL2-S
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Leica Q2 Monochrom
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Copyright © 2021 by CameraDecision
About Feedback Privacy Cameras

Report a Correction