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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released January 2013
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

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").

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Panasonic FZ40

 SH-50 FZ40 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013July 2010More recent by 31 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus SH-50

 FZ40 SH-50 

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic FZ40

 SH-50 FZ40 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

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

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-50
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ40
44
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
46
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography factors
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography factors
64
image stabilization (Optical)
has touch focus
lighter than competitors (269 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
heavier than others (494g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-50
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ40
48
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competitors (269g)
has touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
54
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (494g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-50
Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ40
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
51
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-50
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ40
34
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (269 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
23
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
heavier than others (494 grams)
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus SH-50Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SH-50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also called - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-01-08 2010-07-21
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 grams (0.59 lb) 494 grams (1.09 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $300 $420