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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Launched January 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Successor is Olympus E-330
Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2007
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic L1, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-300 (8MP) and the L1 (7MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-300 was revealed 3 years earlier than the L1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-300 matches up versus the L1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic L1

 E-300 L1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Olympus E-300

 L1 E-300 
AnnouncedApril 2007January 2005More recent by 27 months
Screen dimensions2.5"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution207k134kCrisper screen (+73k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic L1

 E-300 L1 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-300 features physical dimensions 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 Panasonic L1 has dimensions of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic L1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-300 vs the L1.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and L1 is 67 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by checking a spec sheet. The visual below will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and L1.

Clearly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus E-300 to give you extra detail because of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older E-300 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography features
Panasonic L1 Portrait photography features
48
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
low megapixels (8MP)
54
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
resolution not great (7 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography info
Panasonic L1 Street photography info
51
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
58
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (606g)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic L1 as a Sports photography camera
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (7 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic L1 Travel photography highlights
45
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
50
lighter than competition (606g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (7 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography details
Panasonic L1 Landscape photography details
43
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
no Timelapse recording
47
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
no image stabilization
resolution not great (7 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging details
Panasonic L1 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
9
no video
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic L1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic L1
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
Also Known as EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2005-01-10 2007-04-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 7 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 3136 x 2352
Maximum native ISO 400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 45
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 1.8 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 134k dot 207k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 13.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 grams (1.38 lbs) 606 grams (1.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $800 $1,500