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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Older Model is Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic LZ40, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and LZ40 (20MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-PL2 was launched 3 years before the LZ40 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-PL2 matches up against the LZ40 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic LZ40

 E-PL2 LZ40 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Olympus E-PL2

 LZ40 E-PL2 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014February 2011Fresher by 35 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic LZ40

 E-PL2 LZ40 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 has external dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ40 has sizing of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") and a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic LZ40 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL2 versus the LZ40.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and LZ40 is 85 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The photograph below will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and LZ40.

All in all, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic LZ40 will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Panasonic LZ40 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
40
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography highlights
Panasonic LZ40 Street photography highlights
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than average in class (524 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic LZ40 Sports photography advice
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (280 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
amazing zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery (280 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
55
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (22mm)
great reach (924mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (524g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic LZ40 Landscape photography factors
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery (280 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
44
really wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging details
Panasonic LZ40 Vlogging details
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
27
really wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
includes external mic socket
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
heavier than average in class (524g)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic LZ40
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-02-11 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-924mm (42.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 10.80 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 362g (0.80 pounds) 524g (1.16 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images 320 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $0 $219