Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40
88 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49
68 Imaging
37 Features
40 Overall
38
Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
- Revealed September 2011
- Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
(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
- Revealed July 2010
- Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview
Following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ40, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe E-PL3 was released 15 months after the FZ40 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.
Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL3 scores against the FZ40 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Panasonic FZ40 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FZ40
E-PL3 | FZ40 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | September 2011 | July 2010 | More modern by 15 months | |
Display type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting display | |
Display resolution | 460k | 230k | Crisper display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus E-PL3
FZ40 | E-PL3 |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ40
E-PL3 | FZ40 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | Very precise focusing | |||
Display dimensions | 3" | 3" | Equal display dimensions | |
Selfie screen | Neither contains selfie screen | |||
Touch friendly display | Missing Touch friendly display |
Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 has got external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ40 has specifications of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).
See the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ40 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the FZ40.
Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and FZ40 is 88 and 68 respectively.
Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and FZ40.
As you can see, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FZ40 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.
Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 |
Also called as | - | Lumix DMC-FZ45 |
Class | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Revealed | 2011-09-20 | 2010-07-21 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | SLR-like (bridge) |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Truepic VI | 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 | 12MP | 14MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4320 x 3240 |
Maximum native ISO | 12800 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 200 | 80 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 35 | - |
Cross focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 25-600mm (24.0x) |
Maximum aperture | - | f/2.8-5.2 |
Macro focus range | - | 1cm |
Amount of lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 460 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Display technology | HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | Electronic |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 60s | 60s |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/2000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 6.0fps | 2.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | 9.50 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/160s | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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 | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | AVCHD Lite |
Mic jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 313 gr (0.69 lb) | 494 gr (1.09 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") | 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 52 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | 20.9 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.3 | not tested |
DXO Low light score | 499 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 images | - |
Battery form | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | BLS-5 | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Price at release | $399 | $420 |