Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic FZ40

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic FZ40, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-600 (12MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-600 (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-600 was announced 10 months prior to the FZ40 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-600 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-600 matches up against the FZ40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-600 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-600 Gallery and Panasonic FZ40 Gallery.

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-600 enjoys outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") along with a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) and 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).

Examine the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic FZ40 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-600 versus the FZ40.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-600 and FZ40 is 71 and 68 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at specs. The visual here may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-600 and FZ40.

All in all, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-600 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic FZ40 will resolve extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older E-600 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.