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Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-5
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony HX200V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX400V
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was announced 6 years before the HX300 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-3 matches up versus the HX300 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony HX300

 E-3 HX300 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-3

 HX300 E-3 
LaunchedFebruary 2013February 2008More recent by 60 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony HX300

 E-3 HX300 
Manual focus More exact focus
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 comes with exterior measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Sony HX300 has measurements of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the E-3 against the HX300.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and HX300 is 56 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to visualize the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through technical specs. The graphic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and HX300.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-3 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony HX300 will render greater detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-3 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX300 Portrait photography highlights
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
42
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography information
Sony HX300 Street photography information
69
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than average (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography advice
Sony HX300 Sports photography advice
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
supports tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography information
Sony HX300 Travel photography information
55
environment proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
54
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (623g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography information
Sony HX300 Landscape photography information
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
tiny screen (2.5")
low MP (10MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
48
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Sony HX300 Vlogging factors
18
can't shoot video
25
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than average (623g)
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony HX300
 Olympus E-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2008-02-20 2013-02-20
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 623 grams (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card -
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $670 $339