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Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-3
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony HX200V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX400V
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-5 and Sony HX300, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-5 was manufactured 24 months earlier than the HX300 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-5 grades versus the HX300 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony HX300

 E-5 HX300 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-5

 HX300 E-5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013February 2011More recent by 24 months
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony HX300

 E-5 HX300 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 has outside measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Sony HX300 has measurements of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-5 and Sony HX300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-5 vs the HX300.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and HX300 is 58 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements simply by going over specs. The graphic below will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and HX300.

All in all, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-5 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony HX300 will offer greater detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography details
Sony HX300 Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
43
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20MP)
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography details
Sony HX300 Street photography details
71
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than competitors (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography information
Sony HX300 Sports photography information
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proof
has phase detect AF
slow fps (5.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography features
Sony HX300 Travel photography features
56
weather proof
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
54
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (623 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography info
Sony HX300 Landscape photography info
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
low resolution (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging factors
Sony HX300 Vlogging factors
64
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
has external microphone socket
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
25
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing mic jack
heavier than competitors (623g)
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony HX300
 Olympus E-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-02-03 2013-02-20
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 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 800 grams (1.76 lbs) 623 grams (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots Dual Single
Retail pricing $1,700 $339