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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Launched January 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-300
  • Renewed by Olympus E-330
Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus E-300 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-300 was introduced 9 years before the SZ-16 iHS and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-300 grades versus the SZ-16 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-300 SZ-16 iHS 
Focus manually Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus E-300

 SZ-16 iHS E-300 
IntroducedJanuary 2013January 2005Fresher by 97 months
Display sizing3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution460k134kClearer display (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-300 SZ-16 iHS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-300 enjoys physical measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") and a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-300 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-300 against the SZ-16 iHS.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and SZ-16 iHS is 67 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by viewing specs. The photograph here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-300 and SZ-16 iHS.

All in all, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-300 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will result in extra detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The older E-300 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-300
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
48
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography highlights
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography highlights
51
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography advice
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography advice
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
42
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography information
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography information
45
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (8MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
43
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (1.8 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
missing Timelapse mode
41
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging advice
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging advice
9
can't shoot video
31
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Olympus E-300Olympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-300 Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Also called as EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2005-01-10 2013-01-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 8MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
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)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 1.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 134k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624 grams (1.38 lb) 226 grams (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $800 $230