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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push 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
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic ZS40, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 3 years prior to the ZS40 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PL2 grades against the ZS40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL2 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-PL2

 ZS40 E-PL2 
IntroducedJanuary 2014February 2011Newer by 35 months
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL2 ZS40 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 has got outer dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has specifications of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic ZS40 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL2 vs the ZS40.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and ZS40 is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing specs. The image underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and ZS40.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 having a larger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Panasonic ZS40 will deliver more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
52
focusing manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Street photography camera
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
69
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than others in class (240g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS40
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (280 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
54
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery power (280 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than others in class (240g)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography factors
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery power (280 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
56
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging info
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
34
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-11 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 dimensions 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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology 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
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lbs) 240 grams (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 114 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 Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 shots 300 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
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 price $0 $450