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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-3
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS35
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic ZS40, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-5 was introduced 3 years before the ZS40 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-5 scores against the ZS40 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-5 ZS40 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-5

 ZS40 E-5 
IntroducedJanuary 2014February 2011More modern by 35 months

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-5 ZS40 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution920k920kExact same display resolution
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 provides outer dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS40 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic ZS40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-5 versus the ZS40.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and ZS40 is 58 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through specs. The picture here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and ZS40.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-5 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS40 will give you greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E-5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
52
focusing manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography advice
71
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
69
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Sports photography camera
59
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
54
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
56
environment sealing
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
69
lighter than competition in class (240g)
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS40
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
56
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging factors
64
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
comes with external mic socket
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
34
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-03 2014-01-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 23
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD 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
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 240g (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 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 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 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 300 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Dual 1
Retail price $1,700 $450