Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS40

Here is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS40, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is very similar but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 III was launched 5 years later than the ZS40 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-M5 III scores versus the ZS40 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus OM-D E-M5 III and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-M5 III Gallery and Panasonic ZS40 Gallery.

When you are going to carry your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 III has got external dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS40 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-M5 III versus the ZS40.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 III and ZS40 is 80 and 90 respectively.

More often than not, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing only by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and ZS40.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 III will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 III provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.