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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Announced January 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-330
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and SZ-12 (14MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-300 was introduced 8 years before the SZ-12 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-300 matches up vs the SZ-12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-300 SZ-12 
Manual focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-300

 SZ-12 E-300 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2005Newer by 85 months
Screen dimensions3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution460k134kCrisper screen (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-300 SZ-12 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-300 enjoys outer measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") along with a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-12 has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-300 and the SZ-12.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and SZ-12 is 67 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and SZ-12.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-300 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus SZ-12 will show greater detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
megapixel count low (8MP)
33
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
51
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow fps (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography features
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
45
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
43
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (1.8 inch)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
lack of Timelapse function
40
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery (220 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging features
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
9
can't shoot video
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus E-300Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-300 Olympus SZ-12
Also called EVOLT E-300 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2005-01-10 2012-01-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 1.8" 3"
Resolution of display 134k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624g (1.38 lb) 226g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $800 $350