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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Announced January 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Later Model is Olympus E-330
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and ZS5 (12MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-300 was brought out 6 years prior to the ZS5 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-300 matches up versus the ZS5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic ZS5

 E-300 ZS5 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-300

 ZS5 E-300 
RevealedJune 2010January 2005More recent by 66 months
Screen sizing2.7"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.9")
Screen resolution230k134kClearer screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS5

 E-300 ZS5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-300 has outer dimensions of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") with a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS5 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-300 and the ZS5.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and ZS5 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching specs. The graphic here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and ZS5.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-300 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS5 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-300 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-300
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
48
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
27
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-300
Street photography with Panasonic ZS5
51
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (214g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-300
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
31
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography advice
45
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
63
lighter than others in class (214g)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography info
43
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
33
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than others in class (214g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also called EVOLT E-300 Lumix DMC-TZ8
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2005-01-10 2010-06-16
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 134k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 grams (1.38 pounds) 214 grams (0.47 pounds)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $800 $300