Sony WX500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Comparison

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Sony WX500

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

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Panasonic ZS40

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

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Sony WX500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing WX500 and ZS40, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Sony and Panasonic. Sony WX500 was introduced to market in April 2015 and Panasonic ZS40 was launched in January 2014. There is 15 months difference between WX500 and ZS40 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger WX500, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony WX500 and Panasonic ZS40 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony WX500 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2015-04-14

18MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 12800

24-720 mm F3.5-6.4 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Tilting Screen

10.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

236g. 102 x 58 x 36 mm

Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350 Compare

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

10.0fps 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-WX500

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony WX500 and Panasonic ZS40 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40

LCD Screen	Tilting vs Fixed Type	Flexible shooting positions
Max ISO	12.800 vs 3.200	300% higher Max ISO
Battery Life	360 shots vs 300 shots	60 more frames with a single charge
Weight	236 g vs 240 g	4 g lighter
AE Bracketing Range	±3 EV vs ±1 EV	Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500

Viewfinder	Electronic vs None	Better framing and control
GPS	BuiltIn vs None	track your location
RAW Support	Yes vs No	Better image quality
Max Aperture - Wide	3.30 vs 3.50	faster lens at wide
Flash Coverage	6.4m vs 5.4m	1m longer range

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Max Resolution	18 MP vs 18 MP	Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution	921k dots vs 920k dots	High resolution screens
Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 10.0fps	Fast shooting speeds
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 24mm	Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele	720mm vs 720mm	Very good Telezoom
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection	Yes vs Yes	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs Yes	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40

External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	6.40 vs 6.40	Slow lenses at tele

Sony WX500 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 WX500 and Panasonic ZS40 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony WX500 has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 36 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.42″) and weighs 236 g (0.52 lb / 8.32 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 WX500 and Panasonic ZS40. Sony WX500 is 9mm narrower and 6mm shorter than Panasonic ZS40 but it is also 2mm thicker.

Comparison image of Sony WX500 and Panasonic ZS40 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sony WX500 and Panasonic ZS40.

Comparison image of Sony WX500 and Panasonic ZS40 Size and Weight - Back View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony WX500 is 4g lighter than the Panasonic ZS40 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

WX500

ZS40

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

WX500

ZS40

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 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

Sony WX500 and Panasonic ZS40's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

On the other hand, Sony WX500 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Panasonic ZS40 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to WX500.

Sony WX500 vs Panasonic ZS40: Sensor Comparison

Both Sony WX500 and Panasonic ZS40 have 18.0 MP resolution sensors but Sony WX500's sensor is 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) and Panasonic ZS40's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ).

Since Panasonic ZS40's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Sony WX500.

Below you can see the WX500 and ZS40 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony WX500 and Panasonic ZS40 Cameras

Sony WX500 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.

Sony WX500 vs Panasonic ZS40 Lens Specs Comparison

Sony WX500 features a 24-720 mm F3.5-6.4 30� zoom lens whereas Panasonic ZS40 features a 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 30× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.30, Panasonic ZS40 is faster than Sony WX500 at this focal length. Both cameras have a tele angle reach of 720mm and have the same max aperture of f6.40 at this focal length.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

WX500

ZS40

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

WX500

ZS40

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

WX500

ZS40

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

WX500

ZS40

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Sony WX500 and Panasonic ZS40 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Sony WX500 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 WX500 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus 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 WX500 for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic ZS40 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
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 WX500 for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
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 WX500 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Panasonic ZS40 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Compact Body
236g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
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 WX500 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS40 for Landscape Photography

POOR

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

Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
RAW shooting capability
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 WX500 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 WX500 and Panasonic ZS40, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 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 WX500 and Panasonic ZS40 scores compare:

Sony WX500

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #82 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #548 out of 1234 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS40

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #35 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #421 out of 1234 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS40 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony WX500 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Sony WX500. Otherwise, Panasonic ZS40 is the better camera overall.

Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony WX500 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Brand	Sony	Panasonic
Announced	2015-04-14	2014-01-06
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	CMOS
Size	1/2.3"	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	18 megapixels	18 megapixels
Max Resolution	4896 x 3672	4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity	12,800 ISO	3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	-	6400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 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	n/a	23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-720 mm (30�)	24-720 mm (30×)
Max Aperture	F3.5-6.4	F3.3-6.4
Macro Focus Range	5cm	3cm
Screen
Type	Tilting	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	921k 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
Built-in Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.40 m (with Auto ISO)	6.40 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps	10.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	AVCHD, XAVC S	MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	236g	240g
Dimensions	102 x 58 x 36mm	111 x 64 x 34mm
Battery Life	360 shots	300 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction