Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LF1

In this write-up, we are comparing the Olympus E-300 versus Panasonic LF1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and LF1 (12MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and LF1 (1/1.7") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-300 was announced 10 years prior to the LF1 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic LF1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-300 grades vs the LF1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-300 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-300 Gallery & Panasonic LF1 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-300 features outside 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) while the Panasonic LF1 has measurements of 103mm x 62mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-300 versus Panasonic LF1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-300 compared to the LF1.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-300 and LF1 is 67 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing only by going over a spec sheet. The graphic below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and LF1.

Clearly, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-300 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic LF1 will offer more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-300 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.