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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic LZ40, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the LZ40 (20MP) is very similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was unveiled 2 months earlier than the LZ40 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-M1 matches up against the LZ40 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic LZ40

 E-M1 LZ40 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Olympus E-M1

 LZ40 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic LZ40

 E-M1 LZ40 
LaunchedOctober 2013January 2014Similar age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ40 has sizing of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") having a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic LZ40 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-M1 and the LZ40.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and LZ40 is 71 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing technical specs. The pic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and LZ40.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic LZ40 will offer you more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ40
71
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
40
decent megapixels (20MP)
comes with face detection focusing
no manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography information
Panasonic LZ40 Street photography information
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features touch to focus
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
45
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than average in class (524 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LZ40 Sports photography highlights
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery (350 shots)
47
amazing zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography info
Panasonic LZ40 Travel photography info
65
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
weather proofing
features touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
low battery (350 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
55
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (22mm)
very long zoom (924mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (524 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography information
Panasonic LZ40 Landscape photography information
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
low battery (350 shots)
44
rather wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Panasonic LZ40 Vlogging features
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone socket
lighter than competition in class (497g)
display is not selfie friendly
27
rather wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
includes external microphone port
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
more heavy than average in class (524g)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic LZ40
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-10-28 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount 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 Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.80 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, 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
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 pounds) 524 gr (1.16 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 320 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $799 $219