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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Additionally Known as mju 550WP
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS40, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and ZS40 (18MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The 550WP was manufactured 6 years prior to the ZS40 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the 550WP grades against the ZS40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Panasonic ZS40

 550WP ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus 550WP

 ZS40 550WP 
RevealedJanuary 2014January 2009Fresher by 60 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS40

 550WP ZS40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus 550WP has got external dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the 550WP versus the ZS40.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the 550WP and ZS40 is 94 and 90 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing merely by going over specifications. The graphic below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550WP and ZS40.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS40 to deliver more detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The older 550WP is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Portrait photography camera
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
52
focusing manually
good resolution (18MP)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography info
61
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
69
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (240 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus 550WP
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS40
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
54
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus 550WP
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS40
55
environment proofing
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than others (240g)
good resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography factors
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no manual control
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
56
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
exports RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging details
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
34
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (240g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have mic support
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus 550WP Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also Known as mju 550WP Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-01-07 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-114mm (3.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.0 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 7cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167g (0.37 pounds) 240g (0.53 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $399 $450