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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Introduced July 2015
  • Superseded the Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FZ300, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the FZ300 (12MP) is very similar but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FZ300 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-3 was released 8 years earlier than the FZ300 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-3 scores vs the FZ300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FZ300

 E-3 FZ300 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Olympus E-3

 FZ300 E-3 
IntroducedJuly 2015February 2008Fresher by 90 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FZ300

 E-3 FZ300 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 features outer dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ300 has proportions of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") along with a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FZ300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-3 versus the FZ300.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and FZ300 is 56 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by going over specs. The photograph below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and FZ300.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-3 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FZ300 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography highlights
57
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
46
manual focus
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Panasonic FZ300
70
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
59
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather proofing
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (691 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography info
Panasonic FZ300 Sports photography info
58
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
max shutter speed is good (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery (380 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography details
Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography details
55
weather sealing
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
59
good battery (380 CIPA)
weather proofing
comes with touch to focus
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
more heavy than average (691 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ300 as a Landscape photography camera
56
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is small (2.5 inches)
low megapixels (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
52
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
good battery (380 shots)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging advice
18
lack of video recording
62
decently wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone jack
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than average (691g)
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FZ300
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2008-02-20 2015-07-16
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 890g (1.96 lb) 691g (1.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 380 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $670 $598