Canon SX1 IS vs Panasonic ZS40

Cameras
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Canon SX1 IS vs Panasonic ZS40

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
10.0 megapixels
28.00mm - 560.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX1 IS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the SX1 IS.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
18.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 720.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Panasonic ZS40 Review.

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Differences

Canon SX1 IS advantages over Panasonic ZS40

Bigger pixels
~ 1.69 vs 1.26 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Larger lens aperture
f/2.8 vs f/3.3
Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

420 vs 300 shots
Capture more photos
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bigger JPEG buffer
14 vs 6 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/3200 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Panasonic ZS40 advantages over Canon SX1 IS

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$450 vs $600 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
More telephoto lens reach
720 mm vs 560 mm
Capture objects farther away
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Manual focus
Yes vs No
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Thinner
34 mm vs 87 mm
Thinner
Newer
10 years vs 15 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
240g vs 585g
Lighter weight
More dots on screen
920k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More pixels
18.1 vs 10.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Wider angle lens
24 mm vs 28 mm
Capture more of the scene
Longer exposure
30 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 3.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Neither provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

User reviews

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Read SX1 IS User Reviews

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Adorama
Read ZS40 User Reviews

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Panasonic ZS40

Review Excerpt

Read our Canon SX1 IS Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Panasonic ZS40, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Panasonic ZS40 First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Canon SX10 IS

Canon SX1 IS

Canon SX10 IS

$600
1/2.3 inch

RAW file ability
HDMI out

$400
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX10 IS

Panasonic ZS40

Canon SX10 IS

$380
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$400
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Larger lens aperture

Compare Panasonic ZS40 vs Canon SX10 IS

Compared to Sony DSC-HX1

Canon SX1 IS

Sony DSC-HX1

$600
1/2.3 inch

RAW file ability
Hot shoe

$499
1/2.4 inch

Less expensive
Manual focus

Compare Canon SX1 IS vs Sony DSC-HX1

Panasonic ZS40

Sony DSC-HX1

$380
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$499
1/2.4 inch

Bigger pixels
Larger lens aperture

Compare Panasonic ZS40 vs Sony DSC-HX1

Compared to Canon SX20 IS

Canon SX1 IS

Canon SX20 IS

$600
1/2.3 inch

RAW file ability
Shoots 1080p video

$400
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX20 IS

Panasonic ZS40

Canon SX20 IS

$380
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$400
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Larger lens aperture

Compare Panasonic ZS40 vs Canon SX20 IS

Compared to Canon SX700 HS

Canon SX1 IS

Canon SX700 HS

$600
1/2.3 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Bigger pixels

$329
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX700 HS

Panasonic ZS40

Canon SX700 HS

$380
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$329
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Faster shutter

Compare Panasonic ZS40 vs Canon SX700 HS

Compared to Canon SX710 HS

Canon SX1 IS

Canon SX710 HS

$600
1/2.3 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Bigger pixels

$329
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

Compare Canon SX1 IS vs Canon SX710 HS

Panasonic ZS40

Canon SX710 HS

$380
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$329
1/2.3 inch

Faster shutter

Compare Panasonic ZS40 vs Canon SX710 HS

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