Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic LZ40

Here is a extensive review of the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic LZ40, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the LZ40 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-P5 was revealed 3 months earlier than the LZ40 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-P5 matches up vs the LZ40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-P5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-P5 Gallery and Panasonic LZ40 Gallery.

When you are intending to carry your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P5 provides physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ40 has dimensions of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") with a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic LZ40 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-P5 against the LZ40.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P5 and LZ40 is 85 and 67 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through specifications. The photograph below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P5 and LZ40.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P5 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic LZ40 will produce greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively.