Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung NX300

The following is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-M1 versus Samsung NX300, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the NX300 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and NX300 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was unveiled about the same time to the NX300 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung NX300 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-M1 scores against the NX300 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Samsung NX300. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Samsung NX300 Gallery.

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 provides physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Samsung NX300 has measurements of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 versus Samsung NX300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 vs the NX300.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and NX300 is 71 and 86 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions only by checking out specs. The pic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and NX300.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Samsung NX300 will produce greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively.