Clicky

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Announced November 2007
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-510
  • Superseded the Olympus E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-520
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost 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
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS45
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic ZS40, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The E-510 was revealed 7 years before the ZS40 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-510 scores against the ZS40 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-510 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-510

 ZS40 E-510 
IntroducedJanuary 2014November 2007More recent by 74 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-510 ZS40 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-510 offers exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS40 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic ZS40 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-510 against the ZS40.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and ZS40 is 69 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by checking a spec sheet. The visual here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and ZS40.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-510 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZS40 will give you greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The older E-510 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography factors
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
52
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography details
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (490 grams)
screen is fixed
69
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors (240g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography factors
52
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
54
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
includes tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition (490 grams)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competitors (240g)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography factors
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
56
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse mode
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging info
9
no video
34
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (240g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus E-510Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-510 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-510 Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2007-11-23 2014-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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 1600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490 grams (1.08 pounds) 240 grams (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 442 not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $550 $450