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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Announced March 2009
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic FZ40, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-30 was launched 16 months earlier than the FZ40 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-30 matches up against the FZ40 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic FZ40

 E-30 FZ40 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus E-30

 FZ40 E-30 
LaunchedJuly 2010March 2009Newer by 16 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FZ40

 E-30 FZ40 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 enjoys outer measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has sizing of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") along with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic FZ40 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-30 and the FZ40.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and FZ40 is 60 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and FZ40.

As you can see, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-30 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FZ40 will render extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography info
59
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
46
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
saves RAW files
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography highlights
72
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors in class (494 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography information
Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography information
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery (750 shots)
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Travel photography camera
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse recording
low battery (750 shots)
low MP (12MP)
54
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (494 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography advice
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low MP (12MP)
low battery (750 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
51
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
18
no video shooting
23
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (494 grams)
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also called - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-03-24 2010-07-21
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - AVCHD Lite
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695g (1.53 lb) 494g (1.09 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $1,299 $420