Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ40
88 Imaging
51 Features
72 Overall
59
68 Imaging
36 Features
40 Overall
37
Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
- Revealed September 2012
(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
- Introduced July 2010
- Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview
On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL5 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-PL5 (16MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe E-PL5 was introduced 2 years after the FZ40 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.
Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL5 scores against the FZ40 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ40 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery & Panasonic FZ40 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FZ40
| E-PL5 | FZ40 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | September 2012 |  | July 2010 | Newer by 27 months |
| Display type | Tilting |  | Fixed | Tilting display |
| Display resolution | 460k |  | 230k | Crisper display (+230k dot) |
| Selfie screen |  | Take selfies | ||
| Touch friendly display |  | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus E-PL5
| FZ40 | E-PL5 |
|---|
Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ40
| E-PL5 | FZ40 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually |  | Dial accurate focus | ||
| Display dimensions | 3" |  | 3" | Equal display measurements |
Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison
If you're going to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 has got physical dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).
Examine the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ40 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL5 vs the FZ40.
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and FZ40 is 88 and 68 respectively.
Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by seeing specs. The picture underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and FZ40.
All in all, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will provide extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images more aggressively. The newer E-PL5 provides a benefit in sensor tech.
Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications
| Olympus PEN E-PL5 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand | Olympus | Panasonic |
| Model type | Olympus PEN E-PL5 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 |
| Also called as | - | Lumix DMC-FZ45 |
| Class | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Superzoom |
| Revealed | 2012-09-17 | 2010-07-21 |
| Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | SLR-like (bridge) |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | - | Venus Engine HD II |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
| Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
| Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 27.7mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 16MP | 14MP |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4320 x 3240 |
| Max native ISO | 25600 | 6400 |
| Minimum native ISO | 200 | 80 |
| RAW photos | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| AF touch | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| AF single | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detect focusing | ||
| Contract detect focusing | ||
| Phase detect focusing | ||
| Total focus points | 35 | - |
| Cross type focus points | - | - |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
| Lens zoom range | - | 25-600mm (24.0x) |
| Largest aperture | - | f/2.8-5.2 |
| Macro focusing range | - | 1cm |
| Number of lenses | 107 | - |
| Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.9 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Tilting | Fixed Type |
| Display diagonal | 3" | 3" |
| Resolution of display | 460 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch screen | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | Electronic |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 60 seconds |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting speed | 8.0 frames per second | 2.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash distance | 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) | 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 | ||
| AEB | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Highest flash sync | 1/250 seconds | - |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (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) |
| Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
| Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG | AVCHD Lite |
| Microphone jack | ||
| Headphone jack | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environmental seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 325 gr (0.72 lbs) | 494 gr (1.09 lbs) |
| Physical dimensions | 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") | 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | 72 | not tested |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 22.8 | not tested |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.3 | not tested |
| DXO Low light rating | 889 | not tested |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 360 photographs | - |
| Form of battery | Battery Pack | - |
| Battery ID | BLS-5 | - |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
| Storage slots | One | One |
| Price at launch | $400 | $420 |