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Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus FE-5010 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5010
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 130g - 96 x 57 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

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").

Photography Glossary

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5010 over the Panasonic FZ40

 FE-5010 FZ40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus FE-5010

 FZ40 FE-5010 
RevealedJuly 2010January 2009More modern by 18 months
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus FE-5010 and Panasonic FZ40

 FE-5010 FZ40 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

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

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography features
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
46
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Street photography advice
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography advice
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lighter than average (130g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-5010
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
43
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Travel photography camera
60
lighter than average (130 grams)
environment proofing
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
54
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (494g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Landscape photography camera
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
51
has manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
supports RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Vlogging details
Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging details
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (130g)
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
no mic jack
23
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone support
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5010 and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus FE-5010Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus FE-5010 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-01-07 2010-07-21
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-180mm (5.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 130g (0.29 lbs) 494g (1.09 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
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 model LI-42B -
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse recording
Storage type xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $130 $420