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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 Key Specs

Olympus VH-515
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 152g - 102 x 60 x 21mm
  • Launched August 2012
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus VH-515 versus Panasonic ZS40, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the VH-515 (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was unveiled 16 months earlier than the ZS40 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the VH-515 scores against the ZS40 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Panasonic ZS40

 VH-515 ZS40 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus VH-515

 ZS40 VH-515 
LaunchedJanuary 2014August 2012More modern by 16 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic ZS40

 VH-515 ZS40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VH-515 has got outer dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS40 has dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VH-515 versus Panasonic ZS40 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the VH-515 vs the ZS40.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VH-515 and ZS40 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over technical specs. The pic underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and ZS40.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS40 to offer greater detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged VH-515 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography information
27
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
52
manual focus
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Street photography camera
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides touch focus
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (240g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VH-515
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS40
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
54
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VH-515
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS40
62
provides touch focus
flash built-in
fairly wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition (240g)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Landscape photography camera
37
fairly wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
56
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Vlogging camera
35
fairly wide (26mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
34
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (240g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no external mic support
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Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus VH-515Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VH-515 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-08-21 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 152 gr (0.34 lbs) 240 gr (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" 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 - 300 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $648 $450