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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Released January 2013
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase 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
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic ZS40, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is pretty close and both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was unveiled 12 months before the ZS40 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SZ-16 iHS scores against the ZS40 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic ZS40

 SZ-16 iHS ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 ZS40 SZ-16 iHS 
IntroducedJanuary 2014January 2013Fresher by 12 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS40

 SZ-16 iHS ZS40 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS features outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic ZS40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the ZS40.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and ZS40 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing specs. The photograph here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-16 iHS and ZS40.

All in all, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic ZS40 to result in more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older SZ-16 iHS will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography factors
35
decent MP (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
52
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Street photography with Panasonic ZS40
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography details
42
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
good megapixels (18MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography details
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
56
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
34
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (240g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-01-08 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 240g (0.53 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 life 220 shots 300 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $230 $450