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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched November 2010
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic FZ40, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1s was introduced 4 months later than the FZ40 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL1s matches up vs the FZ40 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic FZ40

 E-PL1s FZ40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 FZ40 E-PL1s 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FZ40

 E-PL1s FZ40 
AnnouncedNovember 2010July 2010Same age
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s has got physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has proportions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") having a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic FZ40 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1s and the FZ40.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and FZ40 is 86 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by seeing technical specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and FZ40.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1s with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic FZ40 will provide extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
46
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography features
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than average (494g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
43
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography features
52
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
54
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (494 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography information
Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography information
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
no Timelapse function
51
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging info
Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging info
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone jack
23
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
heavier than average (494g)
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-11-16 2010-07-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic support
Headphone support
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 334 grams (0.74 lb) 494 grams (1.09 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $599 $420