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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(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
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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Photography Glossary

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.

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The 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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FZ40

 E-PL3 FZ40 
RevealedSeptember 2011July 2010More modern by 15 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper 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 dimensions3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
46
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (494 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography factors
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography info
44
no Timelapse function
low battery pack (300 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
54
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (494g)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ40
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 per charge)
no Timelapse function
51
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone jack
23
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
heavier than competition (494 grams)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic 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