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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Revealed January 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Renewed by Olympus E-330
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS16
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and FH2 (14MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-300 was launched 7 years earlier than the FH2 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-300 matches up versus the FH2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic FH2

 E-300 FH2 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus E-300

 FH2 E-300 
IntroducedJanuary 2011January 2005More modern by 72 months
Screen dimensions2.7"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.9")
Screen resolution230k134kClearer screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic FH2

 E-300 FH2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-300 features outside measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") and a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) and the Panasonic FH2 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-300 and the FH2.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and FH2 is 67 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The picture below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-300 and FH2.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-300 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FH2 will render greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography features
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no liveview
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-300
Street photography with Panasonic FH2
51
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
67
image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
lighter than others (121 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography information
Panasonic FH2 Sports photography information
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
43
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery power (270 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Travel photography camera
45
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
72
better than average battery power (270 shots)
lighter than others (121 grams)
provides focus via touch
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography information
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (1.8 inches)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
does not have Time Lapse mode
41
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
better than average battery power (270 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging details
Panasonic FH2 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
32
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than others (121 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Also called EVOLT E-300 Lumix DMC-FS16
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2005-01-10 2011-01-05
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 1.8 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 134k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 gr (1.38 lbs) 121 gr (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 270 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $800 $149