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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Olympus FE-45 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus FE-45
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-108mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 62 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2009
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
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS40, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the FE-45 (10MP) and ZS40 (18MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FE-45 was revealed 6 years prior to the ZS40 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the FE-45 scores versus the ZS40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-45 over the Panasonic ZS40

 FE-45 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus FE-45

 ZS40 FE-45 
LaunchedJanuary 2014January 2009Fresher by 60 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS40

 FE-45 ZS40 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-45 has outer measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS40 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS40 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the FE-45 vs the ZS40.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the FE-45 and ZS40 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing specs. The photograph below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-45 and ZS40.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic ZS40 to result in extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The older FE-45 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography info
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
52
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography information
56
image stabilization (Digital)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than others (240 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Sports photography camera
26
image stabilization (Digital)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
offers tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than others (240g)
megapixel count good (18MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography factors
27
image stabilization (Digital)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
56
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
supports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging details
25
image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not great (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external mic port
34
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (240 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus FE-45Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus FE-45 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-01-07 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 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
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-108mm (3.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 gr (0.31 lb) 240 gr (0.53 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $130 $450