Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40

Below is a complete review of the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic FZ40, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SH-50 was released 2 years later than the FZ40 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SH-50 grades vs the FZ40 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40. The complete galleries are available at Olympus SH-50 Gallery and Panasonic FZ40 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-50 provides physical measurements of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ40 has sizing of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") and a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic FZ40 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SH-50 against the FZ40.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and FZ40 is 88 and 68 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through technical specs. The graphic here should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-50 and FZ40.

As you can tell, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus SH-50 to show more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SH-50 should have an edge in sensor technology.