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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic ZS40, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is pretty close but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was unveiled 20 months earlier than the ZS40 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-M5 grades against the ZS40 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-M5 ZS40 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-M5

 ZS40 E-M5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014April 2012Fresher by 20 months
Screen resolution920k610kCrisper screen (+310k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-M5 ZS40 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 comes with outer dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has specifications of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic ZS40 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 compared to the ZS40.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and ZS40 is 81 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing simply by looking through specs. The graphic below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and ZS40.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS40 will render extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-M5 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
52
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Panasonic ZS40
82
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
weather proof
good high ISO (25,600)
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (240g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography information
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proof
lacks phase detect autofocus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
66
weather proof
offers touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (240 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS40
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
56
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging info
34
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
34
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (240 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-04-30 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425g (0.94 lb) 240g (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 300 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $799 $450