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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Announced January 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • New Model is Olympus E-330
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-300 versus Panasonic ZS8, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and ZS8 (14MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-300 was announced 7 years earlier than the ZS8 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology 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 ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-300 scores versus the ZS8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-300 ZS8 
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-300

 ZS8 E-300 
LaunchedJuly 2011January 2005Newer by 79 months
Display dimension3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution230k134kSharper display (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-300 ZS8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-300 enjoys external measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") and a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-300 versus Panasonic ZS8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-300 vs the ZS8.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and ZS8 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions simply by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-300 and ZS8.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-300 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS8 will resolve more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-300 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-300
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
48
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (8MP)
30
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography information
51
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (210g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
45
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (8MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competitors (210 grams)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography advice
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (1.8 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
44
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
30
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (210 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic socket
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also Known as EVOLT E-300 Lumix DMC-TZ18
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2005-01-10 2011-07-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 134 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 grams (1.38 lbs) 210 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 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
Battery life - 340 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 1 1
Retail pricing $800 $275