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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Released January 2016
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic FZ40, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and FZ40 (14MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and FZ40 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The PEN-F was unveiled 5 years later than the FZ40 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the PEN-F scores against the FZ40 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic FZ40

 PEN-F FZ40 
LaunchedJanuary 2016July 2010Fresher by 68 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus PEN-F

 FZ40 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic FZ40

 PEN-F FZ40 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F enjoys exterior dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ40 has dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic FZ40 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the PEN-F against the FZ40.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and FZ40 is 84 and 68 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the PEN-F and FZ40.

As you can tell, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The PEN-F having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus PEN-F will show greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher PEN-F is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography features
75
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
46
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Street photography camera
84
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
51
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography details
Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography details
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low battery life (330 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Travel photography camera
75
comes with focus by touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
low battery life (330 CIPA)
54
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (494g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ40
76
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (330 shots)
51
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ40
78
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no mic port
23
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than competitors (494 grams)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-01-27 2010-07-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 9.50 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lb) 494 grams (1.09 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,000 $420