Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic LZ40, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and LZ40 (20MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-P2 was announced 4 years earlier than the LZ40 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-P2 scores against the LZ40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-P2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-P2 Gallery and Panasonic LZ40 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P2 features physical measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst 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).

Contrast the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic LZ40 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-P2 compared to the LZ40.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and LZ40 is 86 and 67 respectively.

Usually, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes purely by checking out specifications. The pic underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P2 and LZ40.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P2 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic LZ40 will produce more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-P2 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.