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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released September 2012
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Old Model is Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic LZ40, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the LZ40 (20MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 15 months before the LZ40 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL5 grades versus the LZ40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic LZ40

 E-PL5 LZ40 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Olympus E-PL5

 LZ40 E-PL5 
LaunchedJanuary 2014September 2012More modern by 15 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic LZ40

 E-PL5 LZ40 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 has got outside measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ40 has dimensions of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") and a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic LZ40 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL5 and the LZ40.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and LZ40 is 88 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through specs. The pic here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and LZ40.

All in all, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL5 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Panasonic LZ40 will give more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ40
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
40
MP count decent (20MP)
has face detection focus
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
45
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition (524g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic LZ40
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
47
long zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Travel photography camera
75
supports focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
55
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (22mm)
long reach (924mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (524 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic LZ40 Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
missing Timelapse recording
44
really wide (22mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging features
Panasonic LZ40 Vlogging features
78
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
missing external microphone port
27
really wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
comes with external mic jack
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
heavier than competition (524g)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic LZ40
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-09-17 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-924mm (42.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 10.80 m
Flash options 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 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 325g (0.72 pounds) 524g (1.16 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 320 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $400 $219