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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
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-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ40, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 7 months later than the FZ40 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-PL2 grades versus the FZ40 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic FZ40

 E-PL2 FZ40 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011July 2010More recent by 7 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FZ40 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ40

 E-PL2 FZ40 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with physical measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ40 has specifications of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ40 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 and the FZ40.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and FZ40 is 85 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out specs. The graphic underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and FZ40.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FZ40 will show extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics more aggressively. The more modern E-PL2 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ40
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
46
manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography information
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography information
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (494g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (280 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
43
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
Travel photography with Panasonic FZ40
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery (280 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
54
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (494g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography highlights
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery (280 shots)
no Time Lapse function
51
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
23
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (494 grams)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-11 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 measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 grams (0.80 pounds) 494 grams (1.09 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 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 All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
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 1 1
Pricing at launch $0 $420