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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Introduced January 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-300
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-330
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced July 2012
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic SZ5, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and SZ5 (14MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-300 was manufactured 8 years earlier than the SZ5 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-300 grades vs the SZ5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic SZ5

 E-300 SZ5 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus E-300

 SZ5 E-300 
AnnouncedJuly 2012January 2005More modern by 91 months
Screen dimensions3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution230k134kSharper screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic SZ5

 E-300 SZ5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-300 has external dimensions 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 SZ5 has measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic SZ5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-300 and the SZ5.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and SZ5 is 67 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes only by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-300 and SZ5.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-300 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic SZ5 will deliver more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-300 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-300
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
low resolution sensor (8MP)
34
MP count good (14MP)
includes face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography advice
51
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (136 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
includes tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography features
45
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
lighter than others (136 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography info
43
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
small screen (1.8 inches)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
no Timelapse recording
42
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging features
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
32
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
lighter than others (136g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Also called EVOLT E-300 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2005-01-10 2012-07-18
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 400 1600
Max boosted ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 1.8 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 134 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624 grams (1.38 pounds) 136 grams (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $800 $195