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Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
31
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus 7040 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus 7040
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-196mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 144g - 95 x 56 x 26mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Also referred to as mju 7040
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus 7040 and Panasonic ZS15, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the 7040 (14MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is very comparable and both cameras posses the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The 7040 was announced 3 years earlier than the ZS15 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the 7040 scores versus the ZS15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 7040 over the Panasonic ZS15

 7040 ZS15 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus 7040

 ZS15 7040 
LaunchedJune 2012January 2010Fresher by 30 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus 7040 and Panasonic ZS15

 7040 ZS15 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus 7040 comes with exterior dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 144 grams (0.32 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS15 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Look at the Olympus 7040 and Panasonic ZS15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the 7040 against the ZS15.

Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the 7040 and ZS15 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 7040 and ZS15.

As you can see, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus 7040 to produce more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older 7040 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus 7040
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS15
28
good megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
21
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus 7040 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography factors
57
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (208 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus 7040
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS15
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
36
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus 7040
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
65
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
61
lighter than competition in class (208 grams)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 7040 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography information
42
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
37
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 7040 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging details
29
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
33
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (208 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 7040 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus Stylus 7040Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus 7040 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also referred to as mju 7040 Lumix DMC-TZ25
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-01-07 2012-06-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-196mm (7.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 2cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.70 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 144 gr (0.32 pounds) 208 gr (0.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 life - 260 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SC/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $299 $279