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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • New Model is Olympus E-5
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FZ40, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and FZ40 (14MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was released 3 years prior to the FZ40 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-3 scores vs the FZ40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FZ40

 E-3 FZ40 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus E-3

 FZ40 E-3 
IntroducedJuly 2010February 2008More recent by 29 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FZ40

 E-3 FZ40 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 has external dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has specifications of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") along with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FZ40 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-3 versus the FZ40.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and FZ40 is 56 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and FZ40.

Clearly, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-3 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Panasonic FZ40 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography info
56
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
46
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Street photography camera
69
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proof
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (494g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography features
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proof
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography information
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography information
55
weather proof
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
54
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (494 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Landscape photography camera
56
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proof
screen is small (2.5")
sensor resolution low (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
51
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
18
no video shooting
23
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
heavier than competitors in class (494 grams)
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2008-02-20 2010-07-21
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - AVCHD Lite
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lbs) 494 gr (1.09 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $670 $420