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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-5
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-3 was released 6 years earlier than the ZS40 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-3 grades against the ZS40 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-3 ZS40 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-3

 ZS40 E-3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014February 2008Newer by 71 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-3 ZS40 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 offers outside measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has specifications of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-3 compared to the ZS40.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and ZS40 is 56 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by checking out a spec sheet. The pic underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and ZS40.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-3 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS40 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography details
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
52
has manual focus
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography factors
69
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
69
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (240g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography details
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
54
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
features tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS40
55
environment proofing
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (10MP)
69
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
resolution is good (18MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
56
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
small screen (2.5 inch)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
56
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging information
18
no video shooting
34
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-02-20 2014-01-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 pounds) 240g (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $670 $450