Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ40

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LZ40, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the LZ40 (20MP) is fairly close but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was announced 7 months before the LZ40 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-PM2 grades vs the LZ40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery & Panasonic LZ40 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 has physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ40 has dimensions of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") with a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LZ40 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PM2 versus the LZ40.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and LZ40 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Often, it can be tough to see the gap in sensor sizing only by researching technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and LZ40.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 having a larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Panasonic LZ40 will result in more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PM2 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.