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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
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
  • Old Model is Sony HX200V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX400V
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony HX300, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is relatively close but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was revealed 9 months after the HX300 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-M1 scores vs the HX300 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony HX300

 E-M1 HX300 
AnnouncedOctober 2013February 2013More modern by 9 months
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-M1

 HX300 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX300

 E-M1 HX300 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 features outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony HX300 has dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony HX300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 and the HX300.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and HX300 is 71 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The pic underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and HX300.

Plainly, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Sony HX300 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-M1 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX300 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
42
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography factors
Sony HX300 Street photography factors
78
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
environment proof
lighter than competition (497g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than average in class (623g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Sony HX300
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (350 per charge)
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography factors
Sony HX300 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition (497g)
environment proof
offers touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
54
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (623g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
48
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Sony HX300
36
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone port
lighter than competition (497g)
display is not selfie friendly
25
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
heavier than average in class (623g)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX300
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-10-28 2013-02-20
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 623 gr (1.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $799 $339