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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
68
Imaging
60
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 III
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LZ30
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M1 II versus Panasonic LZ40, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M1 II (20MP) and the LZ40 (20MP) is relatively similar but the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 II was launched 2 years later than the LZ40 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-M1 II matches up vs the LZ40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Panasonic LZ40

 E-M1 II LZ40 
IntroducedSeptember 2016January 2014More recent by 33 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 LZ40 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic LZ40

 E-M1 II LZ40 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 II has physical dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") having a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ40 has proportions of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") with a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 II versus Panasonic LZ40 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 II compared to the LZ40.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 II and LZ40 is 68 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements just by going over technical specs. The photograph here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 II and LZ40.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have the same resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-M1 II provides the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF simpler. The more modern E-M1 II is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography advice
Panasonic LZ40 Portrait photography advice
76
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
40
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography factors
Panasonic LZ40 Street photography factors
78
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus by touch
weather sealing
lighter than others (574 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (524 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography advice
Panasonic LZ40 Sports photography advice
75
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (350 shots)
47
great zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography factors
Panasonic LZ40 Travel photography factors
72
lighter than others (574 grams)
weather sealing
includes focus by touch
MP count good (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery power (350 per charge)
55
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (22mm)
great zoom (924mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (524g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography factors
Panasonic LZ40 Landscape photography factors
76
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
bad battery power (350 per charge)
44
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Vlogging camera
79
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has external mic jack
lighter than others (574g)
27
reasonably wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
has external mic port
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
heavier than competitors in class (524g)
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic LZ40
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-09-19 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 22-924mm (42.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1500 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 10.80 m
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video data format MOV, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 574g (1.27 lbs) 524g (1.16 lbs)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 1312 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 320 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Dual Single
Price at launch $1,700 $219