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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 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
  • Released January 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Successor is Olympus E-330
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Updated by Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-300 versus Panasonic LZ20, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and LZ20 (16MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and LZ20 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-300 was announced 8 years earlier than the LZ20 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-300 matches up against the LZ20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic LZ20

 E-300 LZ20 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus E-300

 LZ20 E-300 
RevealedJuly 2012January 2005Newer by 91 months
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution460k134kCrisper screen (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic LZ20

 E-300 LZ20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-300 has outer measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") and a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ20 has sizing of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") along with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-300 versus Panasonic LZ20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-300 and the LZ20.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and LZ20 is 67 and 71 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking specifications. The pic here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-300 and LZ20.

To sum up, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-300 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic LZ20 will give greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged E-300 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography factors
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
36
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography information
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography information
51
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than others in class (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-300
Sports photography with Panasonic LZ20
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
47
great zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Travel photography camera
45
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
58
better than average battery life (380 shots)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (525mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (499 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Landscape photography camera
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (1.8")
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
does not have Time Lapse mode
45
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-300
Vlogging with Panasonic LZ20
9
no video shooting
25
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
heavier than others in class (499 grams)
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Also called as EVOLT E-300 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2005-01-10 2012-07-18
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 400 1600
Max enhanced ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-525mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus distance - 2cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 1.8" 3"
Resolution of screen 134 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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 624 grams (1.38 lbs) 499 grams (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
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
Battery life - 380 photos
Type 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
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $800 $250