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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Announced January 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-300
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-330
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2014
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-300 was introduced 10 years before the SZ8 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-300 grades against the SZ8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-300 SZ8 
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-300

 SZ8 E-300 
LaunchedJanuary 2014January 2005Fresher by 109 months
Display size3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution460k134kCrisper display (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-300 SZ8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-300 provides physical 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 SZ8 has specifications of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-300 compared to the SZ8.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and SZ8 is 67 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing merely by seeing specs. The photograph underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and SZ8.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-300 using its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ8 will show more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older E-300 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography factors
48
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
35
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography features
51
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (159 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography details
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
34
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-300
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ8
45
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
67
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (288mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography info
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (1.8 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
42
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging information
9
no video
32
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (159 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Also referred to as EVOLT E-300 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2005-01-10 2014-01-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 134k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624 gr (1.38 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 - 200 shots
Battery type - 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 Single Single
Launch cost $800 $275