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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-510
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
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and FZ40 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was manufactured 5 years before the FZ40 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-500 scores vs the FZ40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FZ40

 E-500 FZ40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus E-500

 FZ40 E-500 
LaunchedJuly 2010October 2005Newer by 57 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k215kSharper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FZ40

 E-500 FZ40 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 has outer dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") having a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-500 versus the FZ40.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and FZ40 is 70 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specifications. The pic here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and FZ40.

Plainly, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FZ40 will resolve more detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography factors
49
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
46
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Panasonic FZ40
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (479g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (494 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
43
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
54
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (494g)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography info
43
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
51
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging features
Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging features
9
no video
23
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
heavier than competitors in class (494g)
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-FZ45
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2005-10-21 2010-07-21
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 215k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 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)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lbs) 494 grams (1.09 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $600 $420