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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was revealed 3 years prior to the ZS40 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PM1 scores versus the ZS40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic ZS40

 E-PM1 ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus E-PM1

 ZS40 E-PM1 
RevealedJanuary 2014November 2011More recent by 25 months
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS40

 E-PM1 ZS40 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS40 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the ZS40.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and ZS40 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specs. The photograph here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and ZS40.

All in all, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS40 will offer extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-PM1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
52
you can focus manually
good resolution (18MP)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography info
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
69
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (240g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography details
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
54
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
features tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography features
45
does not have Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (240 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography factors
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
56
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
34
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (240 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-11-23 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI 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 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash modes 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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 AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 265 gr (0.58 lb) 240 gr (0.53 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 300 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $499 $450