Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FZ40

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FZ40, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and FZ40 (14MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The 550WP was manufactured 18 months before the FZ40 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the 550WP grades versus the FZ40 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Panasonic FZ40 Gallery.

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 550WP provides physical measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FZ40 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the 550WP vs the FZ40.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the 550WP and FZ40 is 94 and 68 respectively.

Usually, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by checking out specifications. The image below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the 550WP and FZ40.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic FZ40 to provide more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged 550WP will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.