Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic FZ40: A Detailed Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Choosing the right camera for your creative journey is a nuanced decision. The Olympus OM-D E-M10 II and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 represent two very different approaches to photography. One offers the flexibility of a mirrorless system with interchangeable lenses, while the other is a superzoom bridge camera designed for convenience and reach. Having extensively tested both cameras across multiple photographic disciplines and conditions, we’ll walk you through their core features, real-world capabilities, and how each might fit your shooting style and budget.

First Impressions: Design, Ergonomics, and Handling

Olympus E-M10 II: Classic SLR Styling Meets Compactness

The Olympus E-M10 II adopts a familiar SLR-style mirrorless body but in a compact footprint. At 120 x 83 x 47 mm and weighing just 390 grams, it plays well for photographers who want a portable but robust camera. Its magnesium alloy body feels solid and well-built despite the entry-level designation. The placement of the mode dial and customizable buttons is intuitive and tailored towards photographers looking for fast manual controls.

Panasonic FZ40: Bridge Camera with an Impressive Lens

The Panasonic FZ40, by contrast, resembles a traditional DSLR in shape but houses a fixed superzoom lens. It’s physically larger and chunkier at 120 x 80 x 92 mm and 494 grams, primarily due to the integrated 25-600mm lens (35mm equivalent) and bulkier zoom mechanism. The grip is substantial, providing comfort during long zoom use, but it’s less pocketable than the E-M10 II.

Handling and Interface

The E-M10 II includes a tilting touchscreen with 1,040k-dot resolution, aiding composition from odd angles. Meanwhile, the FZ40 sticks with a fixed 230k-dot non-touch LCD, which feels dated in responsiveness and sharpness. Both offer electronic viewfinders; Olympus’s EVF shines with 2,360k-dot resolution and 100% coverage, delivering a crystal-clear preview that's a boon for precise framing. Panasonic's FZ40 lacks a dedicated EVF resolution spec and with lower quality, leaning more towards live view usage on the rear screen.

The ergonomics favor Olympus for tactile control and customization while Panasonic’s simpler layout suits users who prefer straightforward operation without fuss.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of each Camera

Sensor Size and Type

This is where these cameras truly diverge. The E-M10 II features a 16MP Four Thirds sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm; this is a considerably larger sensor than the FZ40’s tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor at 6.08 x 4.56 mm.

Larger sensors generally translate to better image quality - especially in low light - due to bigger photosites capturing more light. Olympus uses a CMOS sensor with a TruePic VII processor, optimized for noise reduction and color rendition. Panasonic’s CCD sensor, while delivering decent detail for its class, lags in dynamic range and noise performance.

Key Image Quality Metrics

• Dynamic Range: Olympus’s Four Thirds sensor records an impressive 12.5 stops of dynamic range, enabling the capture of more highlight and shadow detail. The FZ40’s smaller sensor typically offers less than 10 stops, restricting recovery in tricky lighting.
• Color Depth: Measured at 23.1 bits for Olympus by DxOmark, this level supports richer tonal gradations and more accurate skin tones.
• ISO Performance: Olympus’s sensor is native to ISO 200-25600 with usable low-light performance up to ISO 800-1600, whereas the FZ40’s range caps at ISO 6400 but with poorer noise control beyond ISO 400 due to sensor size and older CCD tech.

Practical Impact

For portrait, landscape, or night photography requiring subtle tonality and smooth gradations, Olympus clearly leads. The FZ40’s sensor is sufficient for casual daylight shooting and travelers prioritizing zoom reach over pixel pitch.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Use Cases

Accurate autofocus (AF) can make or break your success in fast-paced or low-light scenarios.

Feature	Olympus E-M10 II	Panasonic FZ40
AF System Type	Contrast-Detection (81 points)	Contrast-Detection (unspecified points)
Face Detection	Yes	No
Eye Detection	Yes	No
Continuous AF	Yes	No
AF Tracking	Yes	No
Manual Focus	Yes	Yes

Despite both employing contrast detection AF, Olympus stands out with 81 AF points covering a broad frame area. It features advanced face and eye detection, crucial for capturing sharp portraits and wildlife with precise eye focusing. Panasonic’s basic AF system lacks face/eye detection and continuous AF, which diminishes its responsiveness in demanding situations like sports or wildlife.

For action or wildlife photographers, the Olympus’s ability to track subjects and maintain sharp focus will be a significant advantage. The Panasonic’s slower 2 fps burst speed further limits its sports utility compared to the E-M10 II’s 8 fps.

Lens Options and Focal Reach: Flexibility vs Convenience

Olympus E-M10 II: Interchangeable Micro Four Thirds Lenses

One of the E-M10 II’s greatest strengths is its access to the extensive Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem - over 100 lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to super telephoto zooms are available from Olympus and third parties like Panasonic, Sigma, and Tamron.

This versatility allows you to tailor your setup:

• Portrait photographers can choose fast primes (f/1.8-f/2.8) for creamy bokeh and sharp eyes.
• Landscapers might opt for ultra-wide or high-res telephotos.
• Macro lovers can harness dedicated macro lenses with close minimum focus distances.
• Wildlife and sports shooters have telephoto zooms with optical stabilization.

Panasonic FZ40: Fixed Superzoom Lens

The FZ40’s fixed 25-600mm equivalent lens with aperture f/2.8-5.2 is remarkable for travel and wildlife snapshots without swapping lenses. It covers enormous focal lengths with decent optical image stabilization but fundamentally lacks the optical quality and low-light brightness achievable by interchangeable primes or pro zooms.

Feature	Olympus E-M10 II	Panasonic FZ40
Lens Mount	Micro Four Thirds (interchangeable)	Fixed 25-600 mm f/2.8-5.2 lens
Minimum Focusing Distance	Varies by lens (as close as 0.1m)	1 cm (macro mode)
Optical Stabilization	Sensor-shift, 5-axis IS	Optical stabilization in lens

Interchangeable lenses bring versatility and potential quality but require investment and carrying gear. The FZ40’s all-in-one approach favors convenience for those who travel light or want an easy walkaround camera.

Performance in Key Photography Disciplines

We carefully tested both cameras across a variety of photography types to understand their practical strengths and limitations:

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-M10 II shines with accurate face and eye detection autofocus, fast primes available, and 5-axis sensor stabilization that helps in low light.
• Skin tones are rendered naturally with good color depth thanks to the superior sensor.
• The FZ40 can capture decent portraits but lacks eye AF and produces less flattering bokeh due to its small sensor and slower max aperture at telephoto ends.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus’s wider dynamic range and higher resolution capture rich scenery detail and shadow recovery.
• Weather sealing is absent on both cameras; handle with care outdoors.
• The FZ40’s lens zoom enables distant landscape compression, but sensor limits reduce overall image quality.

Wildlife Photography

• E-M10 II’s fast, continuous autofocus and faster burst rates provide a clear advantage.
• The micro four thirds system supports long telephoto lenses with stabilization.
• FZ40’s superzoom lens is handy for casual wildlife handheld shots but AF speed and image quality limit professional use.

Sports Photography

• Olympus’s 8 fps burst and subject tracking sharply outclass Panasonic’s 2 fps and lack of AF tracking.
• Low light performance gives Olympus critical edge during indoor or evening events.

Street Photography

• E-M10 II’s compact size, quiet shutter modes, and tilting touchscreen facilitate discreet shooting.
• FZ40’s larger body and slower autofocus may be cumbersome in this fast-moving genre.

Macro Photography

• Olympus’s interchangeable lenses include macro options with high magnification and precision focusing.
• Panasonic’s 1 cm macro mode is fun for casual use but depth of field and image quality are limited.

Night and Astrophotography

• The E-M10 II’s superior high ISO performance and manual exposure controls make it suitable for night sky shooting.
• Panasonic’s noise levels at higher ISO reduce image usability.

Video Capabilities

• Olympus offers 1080p video at 60p, with H.264 and Motion JPEG formats, plus sensor-based stabilization that benefits handheld recording.
• Panasonic maxes out at 720p with AVCHD Lite codec, which is somewhat outdated.
• Neither camera includes microphone or headphone jacks, limiting pro video uses.

Travel Photography

• Panasonic’s all-in-one zoom appeals to travelers who want simplicity and reach in one package without lens changes.
• Olympus strikes a balance with portability and system upgrade potential but requires investment in lenses.

Professional Work

• Olympus supports RAW shooting and has the file quality benefits needed for workflows.
• Larger sensor and better color depth meet professional standards more easily.
• Panasonic’s small sensor and limited AF make it more of a consumer-grade alternative.

Build Quality, Durability and Battery Life

Neither camera boasts weather sealing. Olympus’s metal body feels more robust with better button feedback, while Panasonic’s build is plastic-heavy.

Feature	Olympus E-M10 II	Panasonic FZ40
Weight	390 g	494 g
Dimensions (mm)	120 x 83 x 47	120 x 80 x 92
Battery Life	Approx. 320 shots	Not specified
Storage	1x SD/SDHC/SDXC	1x SD/SDHC/SDXC + Internal

Battery life favors Olympus with 320 shots per charge. Panasonic’s older bridge design typically requires frequent recharges depending on zoom use.

Connectivity and Extras

The Olympus E-M10 II includes built-in Wi-Fi for easy image transfer and remote control via smartphone - an important feature for connected workflows. Panasonic FZ40 does not provide wireless connectivity.

Both cameras have HDMI outputs for external monitoring, but neither supports microphone inputs, limiting video recording flexibility.

Putting It All Together: Overall Performance and Ratings

We captured dozens of test photos side-by-side to evaluate color accuracy, sharpness, and noise levels. The Olympus samples exhibit greater clarity, shadow detail, and accurate skin tones. The Panasonic images tend to show more noise, reduced sharpness, and compression artifacts at longer zooms.

Olympus E-M10 II scores highly for image quality, autofocus, and build. Panasonic FZ40’s scores center on zoom range and convenience.

Evaluated by photography type, the Olympus leads in professional genres (portrait, sports, night), while Panasonic fares better in casual travel and superzoom needs.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

User Profile	Recommendation	Why?
Photography Beginners	Olympus E-M10 II	Learn with manual controls, great image quality
Casual Travelers	Panasonic FZ40	All-in-one zoom without lens changes
Portrait Photographers	Olympus E-M10 II	Accurate AF, lens selection, beautiful bokeh
Sports/Wildlife Shooters	Olympus E-M10 II	Fast AF, burst, tele lenses
Video Creators	Olympus E-M10 II	1080p60 with stabilization
Budget-Conscious Buyers	Panasonic FZ40	Lower price, decent for casual use
Macro Enthusiasts	Olympus E-M10 II	Superior focusing precision and lenses

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 II, with its larger sensor, advanced autofocus system, and flexible lens system, stands out for serious enthusiasts and professionals seeking quality in multiple disciplines. It rewards you with professional-grade image fidelity, creative control, and expandability.

The Panasonic Lumix FZ40 is best viewed as a convenient, all-in-one bridge camera for casual photographers or travelers who value zoom reach over interchangeable lens complexity. Though dated by sensor technology and interface, it still offers a practical solution for straightforward shooting scenarios.

Both cameras have their place on your creative shelf, and your choice depends on how far you want to take your photography. To truly decide, I recommend handling both models if possible, testing their controls and ergonomics for your style. Explore lenses and accessories for the Olympus if going mirrorless, or check out sample superzoom photos from the FZ40 to confirm its output meets your expectations.

Whichever path you choose, these cameras generate inspiration and open doors to creative expression. Dive in, capture your stories, and build your vision - your perfect camera companion awaits.

We appreciate your passion for photography and trust this detailed comparison has illuminated the strengths and compromises of the Olympus E-M10 II versus Panasonic FZ40. Discover, experiment, and create with confidence.