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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced November 2011
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Superseded the Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic LZ40, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and LZ40 (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was released 3 years earlier than the LZ40 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-PM1 matches up against the LZ40 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic LZ40

 E-PM1 LZ40 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Olympus E-PM1

 LZ40 E-PM1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014November 2011More modern by 25 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic LZ40

 E-PM1 LZ40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 provides outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ40 has dimensions of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") having a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic LZ40 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 vs the LZ40.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and LZ40 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at specs. The pic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and LZ40.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic LZ40 will resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ40
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
40
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography factors
Panasonic LZ40 Street photography factors
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competitors (524 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
incredible zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Panasonic LZ40 Travel photography information
45
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
55
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (22mm)
long reach (924mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (524 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic LZ40 Landscape photography details
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
44
really wide (22mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging features
Panasonic LZ40 Vlogging features
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
27
really wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
includes external mic port
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
heavier than competitors (524g)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic LZ40
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-11-23 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
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 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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 AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 265g (0.58 lbs) 524g (1.16 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 320 shots
Form 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
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $499 $219