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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push 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
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic LZ40, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the LZ40 (20MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was revealed 4 years after the LZ40 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL9 grades versus the LZ40 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic LZ40

 E-PL9 LZ40 
LaunchedFebruary 2018January 2014More modern by 50 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Olympus E-PL9

 LZ40 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic LZ40

 E-PL9 LZ40 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 features outside measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ40 has measurements of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") along with a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic LZ40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL9 vs the LZ40.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and LZ40 is 85 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading specifications. The picture here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and LZ40.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 using its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic LZ40 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The fresher E-PL9 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography features
Panasonic LZ40 Portrait photography features
73
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
40
decent MP (20 megapixels)
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Street photography camera
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (524g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography factors
Panasonic LZ40 Sports photography factors
69
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Travel photography camera
77
has bluetooth
boasts touch focus
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
55
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
great reach (924mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (524g)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ40
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
44
reasonably wide (22mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic LZ40 Vlogging highlights
35
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
27
reasonably wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
includes external microphone jack
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
more heavy than competition in class (524 grams)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic LZ40
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2018-02-08 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 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 Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-924mm (42.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 10.80 m
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lbs) 524 gr (1.16 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 320 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $599 $219