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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 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
  • Announced January 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Updated by Olympus E-330
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and ZS50 (12MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-300 was announced 11 years prior to the ZS50 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-300 grades against the ZS50 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-300 ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-300

 ZS50 E-300 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015January 2005More modern by 121 months
Display dimension3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution1040k134kCrisper display (+906k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS50

 E-300 ZS50 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-300 enjoys external 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 ZS50 has proportions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-300 against the ZS50.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and ZS50 is 67 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by looking through specifications. The picture here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and ZS50.

To sum up, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-300 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS50 will provide you with more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography information
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no liveview
MP count low (8MP)
42
has manual focus
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography factors
51
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (243 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography factors
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography features
45
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
MP count low (8 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
66
lighter than competition (243 grams)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-300
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS50
43
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (1.8")
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
does not have Timelapse function
51
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging details
9
no video recording
34
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (243 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Alternate name EVOLT E-300 Lumix DMC-TZ70
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2005-01-10 2015-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 134 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624g (1.38 lbs) 243g (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 44
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 138
Other
Battery life - 300 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $800 $350