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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS40, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was introduced 4 years earlier than the ZS40 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PL1s scores against the ZS40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL1s ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 ZS40 E-PL1s 
IntroducedJanuary 2014November 2010More modern by 38 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL1s ZS40 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s has external measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS40 has specifications of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS40 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1s and the ZS40.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and ZS40 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The picture below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and ZS40.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS40 will offer greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS40
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
52
manual focus
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Street photography with Panasonic ZS40
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (240g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography details
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
54
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
features tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography info
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition (240 grams)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
56
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
34
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (240g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have microphone port
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-11-16 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 240 grams (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 rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos 300 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $599 $450