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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS45
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS40, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL8 was unveiled 2 years after the ZS40 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-PL8 matches up against the ZS40 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL8 ZS40 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016January 2014More modern by 33 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k920kSharper display (+117k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-PL8

 ZS40 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-PL8 ZS40 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 has exterior measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS40 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL8 and the ZS40.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and ZS40 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing technical specs. The picture below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and ZS40.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS40 will show extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-PL8 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography highlights
72
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
52
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography features
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
69
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others (240g)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography information
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
54
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography features
71
supports focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than others (240g)
MP count good (18MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography info
80
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
56
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no mic socket
34
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (240g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-09-19 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lbs) 240 gr (0.53 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 300 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $500 $450