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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Launched January 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Replacement is Olympus E-330
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-300 (8MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the E-300 (Four Thirds) and FS42 (1/2.5") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-300 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the FS42 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-300 grades versus the FS42 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic FS42

 E-300 FS42 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus E-300

 FS42 E-300 
RevealedApril 2009January 2005Newer by 51 months
Screen dimension2.5"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution230k134kClearer screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic FS42

 E-300 FS42 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-300 has outer dimensions of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") having a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) while the Panasonic FS42 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-300 vs the FS42.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-300 and FS42 is 67 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The image here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and FS42.

As you can see, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-300 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FS42 will produce greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography details
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (8 megapixels)
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Street photography camera
51
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.5")
no RAW format
low maximum ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography advice
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
16
max fps low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-300
Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
45
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography details
43
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
lack of Time Lapse recording
22
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
no RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-300
Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
9
no video
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Also referred to as EVOLT E-300 -
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Launched 2005-01-10 2009-04-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 400 1000
Max boosted ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 134k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624g (1.38 lbs) 132g (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $800 $580