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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released August 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL7
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released January 2014
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

The following is a extended overview of the Olympus E-PL6 versus Panasonic ZS40, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL6 was launched 7 months after the ZS40 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-PL6 scores against the ZS40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL6 ZS40 
ReleasedAugust 2014January 2014Newer by 7 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-PL6

 ZS40 E-PL6 
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL6 ZS40 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL6 enjoys exterior measurements 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 ZS40 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL6 versus Panasonic ZS40 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL6 versus the ZS40.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL6 and ZS40 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions purely by going through technical specs. The image underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL6 and ZS40.

As you can tell, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL6 because of its larger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS40 will provide extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The newer E-PL6 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
52
manual focus
decent MP (18MP)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography advice
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
69
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lighter than others (240g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Sports photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
54
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography features
85
comes with focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
69
lighter than others (240g)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography factors
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
56
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
saves RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL6
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no mic jack
34
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (240 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-08-01 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.40 m
Flash settings 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 240g (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 300 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $300 $450