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Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Introduced January 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Renewed by Olympus E-330
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX10V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX30V
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Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-300 and Sony HX20V, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The E-300 was introduced 8 years earlier than the HX20V and that is a fairly big 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 Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-300 scores against the HX20V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Sony HX20V

 E-300 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus E-300

 HX20V E-300 
IntroducedJuly 2012January 2005Fresher by 91 months
Screen sizing3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution922k134kClearer screen (+788k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Sony HX20V

 E-300 HX20V 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-300 enjoys external 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 Sony HX20V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-300 and Sony HX20V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-300 compared to the HX20V.

Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-300 and HX20V is 67 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by going through technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-300 and HX20V.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-300 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Sony HX20V will show more detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-300 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography features
Sony HX20V Portrait photography features
48
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
low resolution (8 megapixels)
45
you can focus manually
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography info
Sony HX20V Street photography info
51
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography features
Sony HX20V Sports photography features
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (8 megapixels)
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX20V Travel photography highlights
45
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low resolution (8 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (254 grams)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Landscape photography camera
43
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inches)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
no Timelapse mode
50
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-300
Vlogging with Sony HX20V
9
no video shooting
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-300 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus E-300Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-300 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Also called as EVOLT E-300 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2005-01-10 2012-07-20
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-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 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 400 12800
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 1.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 134 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624g (1.38 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 - 320 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $800 $397