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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Revealed January 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-300
  • Updated by Olympus E-330
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-300 versus Panasonic ZS15, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and ZS15 (12MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The E-300 was launched 8 years earlier than the ZS15 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-300 scores versus the ZS15 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-300 ZS15 
Manually focus Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-300

 ZS15 E-300 
ReleasedJune 2012January 2005More modern by 90 months
Screen dimension3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution460k134kCrisper screen (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-300 ZS15 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-300 has got outer measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") having a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-300 versus Panasonic ZS15 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the E-300 compared to the ZS15.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and ZS15 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes simply by viewing a spec sheet. The image below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and ZS15.

As you can see, both of those cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-300 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS15 will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Portrait photography camera
48
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
low megapixels (8MP)
21
no manual focus
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography advice
51
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (208g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography advice
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (260 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography advice
45
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
lighter than competition (208 grams)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (260 shots)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Landscape photography camera
43
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (1.8 inch)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
37
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery power (260 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging info
9
can't shoot video
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (208 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also referred to as EVOLT E-300 Lumix DMC-TZ25
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2005-01-10 2012-06-29
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
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 - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 1.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 134k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624 grams (1.38 lbs) 208 grams (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 - 260 pictures
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $800 $279