Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LZ40

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic LZ40, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and LZ40 (20MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 3 years before the LZ40 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL3 matches up against the LZ40 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Panasonic LZ40 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 provides exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ40 has specifications of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") and a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic LZ40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL3 and the LZ40.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and LZ40 is 88 and 67 respectively.

Typically, it is very hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and LZ40.

As you can see, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic LZ40 will show extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.