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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand 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
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS40, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 4 years prior to the ZS40 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-PL1 grades against the ZS40 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL1 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-PL1

 ZS40 E-PL1 
RevealedJanuary 2014May 2010More recent by 44 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL1 ZS40 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 has got outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS40 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS40 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 and the ZS40.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and ZS40 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by seeing technical specs. The photograph below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and ZS40.

As you can tell, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS40 will provide extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
52
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (18MP)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (240 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography advice
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
54
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
bad battery (290 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competitors in class (240 grams)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery (290 shots)
no Time Lapse function
56
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
saves RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic support
34
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (240 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-05-17 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 measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 240g (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 300 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $288 $450