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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300

Portability
80 Imaging
53 Features
84 Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
Portability
59 Imaging
37 Features
73 Overall
51

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M5
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 III
Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Launched July 2015
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and FZ300 (12MP) and the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and FZ300 (1/2.3") possess different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 II was released 5 months before the FZ300 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a short view of how the E-M5 II scores vs the FZ300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Panasonic FZ300

		

		

			
 E-M5 II FZ300 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Olympus E-M5 II

		

		

			
 FZ300 E-M5 II 
Screen resolution1040k1037kClearer screen (+3k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic FZ300

		

		

			
 E-M5 II FZ300 
LaunchedFebruary 2015July 2015Same age
Manually focus  Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen  Both good for selfies
Touch friendly screen  Quickly navigate
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II comes with external dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ300 has dimensions of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") having a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).
Contrast the Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 II compared to the FZ300.
Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 size comparison
Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and FZ300 is 80 and 59 respectively.
Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Normally, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements only by seeing a spec sheet. The visual here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 II and FZ300.
Clearly, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 II because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-M5 II will produce more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs much more aggressively.
	
			Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
 Olympus E-M5 II as a Portrait photography camera
 Panasonic FZ300 as a Portrait photography camera
71
 you can focus manually
 decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 features face detection focus
 exports RAW files
46
 you can focus manually
 provides face detection autofocus
 supports RAW formats
 resolution not great (12MP)
 tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison
 Olympus E-M5 II as a Street photography camera
 Panasonic FZ300 as a Street photography camera
82
 fully articulated screen
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW files
 boasts focus via touch
 weather sealing
 above average high ISO (25,600)
59
 fully articulated screen
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 supports RAW formats
 offers touch focus
 weather sealing
 tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
 more heavy than competitors in class (691 grams)
Photography Glossary
Sports Comparison
Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography info
Panasonic FZ300 Sports photography info
65
 high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
 silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 decent sensor resolution (16MP)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 features tracking autofocus
 weather sealing
 terrible battery power (310 per charge)
 lacks phase detect auto focus
51
 amazing zoom range (25-600mm  24.0 x zoom)
 maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000 seconds)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 provides tracking autofocus
 weather sealing
 great battery pack (380 shots)
 resolution not great (12MP)
 tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
 doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Travel photography with Panasonic FZ300
74
 weather sealing
 boasts focus via touch
 decent sensor resolution (16MP)
 screen is selfie friendly
 terrible battery power (310 shots)
59
 great battery pack (380 CIPA)
 weather sealing
 offers touch focus
 built-in flash
 screen is selfie friendly
 decently wide (25mm)
 long reach (600mm)
 more heavy than competitors in class (691 grams)
 resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography advice
74
 you can focus manually
 swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 decent sized screen (3")
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 above average high ISO (25,600)
 exports RAW files
 weather sealing
 terrible battery power (310 per charge)
52
 you can focus manually
 decently wide (25mm)
 screen size is good (3 inches)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 supports RAW formats
 weather sealing
 great battery pack (380 per charge)
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
 resolution not great (12MP)
 tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging highlights
82
 screen is selfie friendly
 touchscreen functionality
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 features face detection focus
 video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 includes external microphone socket
62
 decently wide (25mm)
 screen is selfie friendly
 screen is touchscreen
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 provides face detection autofocus
 high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
 includes external microphone port
 sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
 more heavy than competitors in class (691 grams)
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic FZ300
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2015-02-06 2015-07-16
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Venus Engine
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos    
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
AF touch    
Continuous AF    
AF single    
Tracking AF    
Selective AF    
AF center weighted    
AF multi area    
AF live view    
Face detect focusing    
Contract detect focusing    
Phase detect focusing    
Total focus points 81 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch function    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/16000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack    
Headphone jack    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 469 gr (1.03 lbs) 691 gr (1.52 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 images 380 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting    
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $699 $598