Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZS40

The following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic ZS40, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is fairly similar and they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SH-50 was released 12 months earlier than the ZS40 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the SH-50 matches up versus the ZS40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SH-50 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40. The complete galleries are available at Olympus SH-50 Gallery & Panasonic ZS40 Gallery.

If you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-50 provides exterior dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS40 has specifications of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic ZS40 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SH-50 against the ZS40.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and ZS40 is 88 and 90 respectively.

In many cases, it's tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading technical specs. The pic here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-50 and ZS40.

As you have seen, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS40 to offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged SH-50 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.