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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P3
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic LZ40

 E-P2 LZ40 
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Olympus E-P2

 LZ40 E-P2 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014April 2010More modern by 45 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic LZ40

 E-P2 LZ40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

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

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
40
good MP (20 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography info
Panasonic LZ40 Street photography info
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than others (524 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
47
incredible zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Travel photography camera
43
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
55
good MP (20MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (22mm)
very long zoom (924mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (524g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P2
Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ40
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
44
fairly wide (22mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging advice
Panasonic LZ40 Vlogging advice
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
27
fairly wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
does have mic socket
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
heavier than others (524g)
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic LZ40
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-04-22 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 22-924mm (42.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.80 m
Flash modes 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 pounds) 524 gr (1.16 pounds)
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 All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 505 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 320 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $799 $219