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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Released January 2016
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS35
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is relatively similar but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was unveiled 2 years after the ZS40 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the PEN-F matches up against the ZS40 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic ZS40

 PEN-F ZS40 
IntroducedJanuary 2016January 2014More modern by 26 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k920kSharper screen (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus PEN-F

 ZS40 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS40

 PEN-F ZS40 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F has physical measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Look at the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the PEN-F against the ZS40.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the PEN-F and ZS40 is 84 and 90 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The picture here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and ZS40.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will offer extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer PEN-F should have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography factors
75
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
52
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography features
84
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
69
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (240 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus PEN-F
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS40
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
terrible battery pack (330 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
provides tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography advice
75
has touch focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
69
lighter than competition (240g)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography info
76
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
56
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
78
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing microphone support
34
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (240 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-01-27 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 200 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lb) 240 grams (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 300 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $1,000 $450