Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic SZ8

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.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-300 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-300 Gallery & Panasonic SZ8 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.