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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Announced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Launched January 2014
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic ZS40, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was revealed 6 years earlier than the ZS40 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-520 scores vs the ZS40 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-520 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-520

 ZS40 E-520 
LaunchedJanuary 2014August 2008More recent by 65 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-520 ZS40 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 comes with outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic ZS40 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-520 and the ZS40.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and ZS40 is 68 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out technical specs. The visual underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and ZS40.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-520 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZS40 will produce extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older E-520 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography advice
59
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
52
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography advice
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
69
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (240 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS40
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery life (650 per charge)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography advice
52
great battery life (650 shots)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
low MP (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competitors (240 grams)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (650 CIPA)
small screen (2.7")
low MP (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
56
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
34
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (240 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2008-08-20 2014-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552g (1.22 pounds) 240g (0.53 pounds)
Physical 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 rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 shots 300 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $400 $450