Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS40

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.

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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.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-510 Gallery and Panasonic ZS40 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.