Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is pretty close and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FE-5010 was released 18 months earlier than the FZ40 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus FE-5010 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the FE-5010 scores vs the FZ40 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus FE-5010 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus FE-5010 Gallery & Panasonic FZ40 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus FE-5010 provides physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ40 has specifications of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the FE-5010 against the FZ40.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FE-5010 and FZ40 is 96 and 68 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through specifications. The picture below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-5010 and FZ40.

Plainly, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can expect the Panasonic FZ40 to result in extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged FE-5010 will be behind in sensor technology.