Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot SX40 vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

Canon Powershot SX40

54

vs
Olympus PEN E-PL1

31

Olympus PEN E-PL1
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot SX40

Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
 

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Size
 Really small
Mid size 115x72x42 mm
Color depth
 Great color depth
21.5 bits
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX40
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10.3 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 350 ms vs 820 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when taking photos
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Battery life Longer battery life 380 shots vs 290 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
Help
 Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Canon Powershot SX40 Learn more about
the Canon SX40

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1
Size Much smaller 115x72x42 mm vs 123x92x108 mm
Help
 3.5x smaller
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Thickness Much thinner 1.7" vs 4.3"
Help
 2.6x thinner
Sensor size Larger sensor Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 8x larger sensor
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
Weight Significantly lighter 334 g vs 600 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot SX40 Canon Powershot SX40
54 vs 31
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot SX40. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
Focus points Few focus points Help
SX40:9
PEN E-PL1:11
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$328 body only

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the D3100 vs the PEN E-PL1
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$971
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Powershot SX40
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PEN E-PL1

Canon Powershot SX40 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$369 - $450
Zoom Much more zoom
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the Powershot SX40
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$345
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Zoom More zoom
Supports 24p No 24p support
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Powershot SX40
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Super zoom

$219 - $229
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Size Significantly smaller
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the PowerShot SX500 IS vs the Powershot SX40
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$348 - $478
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Aperture Slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V vs the Powershot SX40
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$339
Screen size Significantly larger screen
3D Takes 3D photos
Supports 24p No 24p support
Zoom Less zoom
Compare the FinePix HS30 EXR vs the Powershot SX40

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$279 - $299 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
3D Takes 3D photos
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 - $349 with 10-30mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Focus points Many more focus points
Image stabilization No image stabilization
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$285 body only

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Shutter lag More shutter lag
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1

appearance

Canon Powershot SX40 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Canon Powershot SX40 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Canon Powershot SX40 Olympus PEN E-PL1

discussion

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