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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Updated by Olympus E-P2
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
  • Previous Model is Sony HX200V
  • Successor is Sony HX400V
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-P1 versus Sony HX300, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was unveiled 4 years before the HX300 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-P1 matches up versus the HX300 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony HX300

 E-P1 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-P1

 HX300 E-P1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013July 2009Newer by 43 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony HX300

 E-P1 HX300 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 has physical dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Sony HX300 has measurements 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-P1 versus Sony HX300 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-P1 against the HX300.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and HX300 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions merely by checking a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and HX300.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Sony HX300 will resolve more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
42
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Sony HX300
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than average in class (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography advice
Sony HX300 Sports photography advice
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
55
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX300 Travel photography highlights
43
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
54
MP count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (623 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Landscape photography camera
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
48
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging features
Sony HX300 Vlogging features
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic port
25
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic socket
heavier than average in class (623g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony HX300
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-07-29 2013-02-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 355 grams (0.78 lbs) 623 grams (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card -
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $182 $339