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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(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
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P3
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
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic ZS40, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P2 was brought out 4 years before the ZS40 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-P2 grades vs the ZS40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-P2 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-P2

 ZS40 E-P2 
RevealedJanuary 2014April 2010More recent by 45 months
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-P2 ZS40 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-P2 has got outer 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) while the Panasonic ZS40 has specifications of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic ZS40 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P2 and the ZS40.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P2 and ZS40 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements simply by researching specifications. The graphic underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P2 and ZS40.

Plainly, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS40 will render more detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots more aggressively. The older E-P2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
52
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography advice
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
69
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (240g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
54
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
43
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (300 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than others (240g)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography factors
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
56
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
exports RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P2
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (240 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-04-22 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V 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 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 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 range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change 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, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 355g (0.78 lbs) 240g (0.53 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 505 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 300 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $799 $450