Clicky

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase 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
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ30
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LZ40, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and LZ40 (20MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-P1 was released 5 years before the LZ40 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-P1 scores versus the LZ40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic LZ40

 E-P1 LZ40 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Olympus E-P1

 LZ40 E-P1 
IntroducedJanuary 2014July 2009Fresher by 54 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LZ40

 E-P1 LZ40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 offers external measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ40 has sizing of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") along with a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LZ40 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P1 versus the LZ40.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and LZ40 is 86 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing only by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and LZ40.

As you can see, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-P1 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic LZ40 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-P1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic LZ40 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
40
MP count decent (20MP)
has face detection focus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
45
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competition (524g)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Panasonic LZ40
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
excellent zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Panasonic LZ40
43
missing Timelapse mode
low battery life (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
55
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
long zoom (924mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (524 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ40
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
low battery life (300 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
44
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
27
reasonably wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
comes with external microphone socket
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
more heavy than competition (524g)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LZ40
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-07-29 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V -
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 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 22-924mm (42.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 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 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355g (0.78 lb) 524g (1.16 lb)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 320 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $182 $219