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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-2
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic FZ40, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was announced 5 years later than the FZ40 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SH-3 grades against the FZ40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Panasonic FZ40

 SH-3 FZ40 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016July 2010More recent by 68 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus SH-3

 FZ40 SH-3 
Manual focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FZ40

 SH-3 FZ40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-3 has outer measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has proportions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") along with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic FZ40 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SH-3 versus the FZ40.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and FZ40 is 88 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out specifications. The visual here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and FZ40.

Plainly, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus SH-3 to show more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SH-3 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography details
44
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
46
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ40 as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
features focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than others (494 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography features
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography info
74
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
54
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than others (494 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography factors
55
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
51
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
saves RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging details
Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging details
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone support
23
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than others (494 grams)
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-02-08 2010-07-21
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.5fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271g (0.60 pounds) 494g (1.09 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
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 380 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $579 $420