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Introduction
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01.Product Tour
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02.Color
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03.Noise
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04.Resolution
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05.Video
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06.Sample Photos
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07.Playback
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08.Hardware
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09.Controls
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10.Design & Handling
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11.Panasonic FZ47 Comparison
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12.Nikon P500 Comparison
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13.Canon SX40 HS Comparison
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14.Conclusion
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15.Photo Gallery
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16.Comments
Panasonic Lumix FZ150
Previous: Page 12
Nikon P500 ComparisonNext: Page 14
ConclusionCanon SX40 HS Comparison
Of the superzooms we’ve tested, the Canon SX40 HS and Panasonic FZ150 are the most serious contenders to capture the superzoom crown. We posted our SX40 HS review last week, and it ranked as the best point-and-shoot we’ve ever tested. Excellent image quality, an enormous 35x zoom range, plenty of features, Canon’s always-friendly interface, and a slightly smaller price tag than the FZ150—for most users, there’s nothing not to love.
But now, a week later, the FZ150 jumps ahead and claims the top spot from the SX40 HS. They’re very evenly matched, but the FZ150 wins because of a very few extra features: a faster maximum burst rate, extra manual control including RAW capture, and a slightly higher-resolution LCD, to name the most obvious. Their image quality is very similar (scores favor the SX40, but aesthetically and unofficially, we favor the FZ150), and they handle equally well.
While the FZ150 comes out ahead in our scores, it’s really too close to call, a toss-up at best. Hands-on, experienced photographers who are looking for a superzoom should side with the FZ150 for its extra manual control and, for sports photographers, the better stabilization. More casual shooters might be wooed by the SX40’s longer zoom and cheaper price—it’s understandable, though we’d still recommend the FZ150 most of the time.
| Panasonic Lumix FZ150 vs Canon PowerShot SX40 HS | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
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| Panasonic Lumix FZ150 | Canon PowerShot SX40 HS | |
| Price | $499 | $429.99 |
| Colors | black | black |
| Dimensions | 124.3mm x 95.2mm x 81.7mm | 122.9mm x 107.7mm x 92.4mm |
| Optical Zoom | 24x | 35x |
| Sensor | 1/2.3"-type, CMOS, 12.8 megapixels | 1/2.3"-type, CMOS, 12.8 megapixels |
| Display | articulated LCD, 3.0 in., 460,000 pixels | articulated LCD, 2.7 in., 230000 pixels |
| Viewfinder | electronic, 201,600 pixels, 0.0 x, 100.0 % coverage | electronic, 202000 pixels |
| Manual Controls | manual focus, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, full manual exposure, custom white balance, ISO control | manual focus, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, full manual exposure, custom white balance, ISO control |
| Connectivity | USB, miniHDMI, microphone, wired remote | USB, A/V, miniHDMI |
| Battery | removable lithium-ion, DMW-BMB9PP | removable lithium-ion, NB-10L |
Shop for the Panasonic FZ150
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Canon's new G1 X features a giant 1.5-inch CMOS sensor and the same manual control that we loved on the G12. Read full 7-part review
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