Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic FZ40

Here is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-1 versus Panasonic FZ40, one being a Pro DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and FZ40 (14MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-1 was manufactured 7 years prior to the FZ40 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-1 scores versus the FZ40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-1 Gallery and Panasonic FZ40 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-1 offers external dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ40 has specifications of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-1 versus Panasonic FZ40 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-1 vs the FZ40.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and FZ40 is 59 and 68 respectively.

Generally, it is hard to see the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking technical specs. The photograph here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-1 and FZ40.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-1 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic FZ40 will resolve greater detail due to its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The older E-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.