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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Updated by Olympus E-P5
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
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX200V
  • Successor is Sony HX400V
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 Overview

The following is a complete review of the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony HX300, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was brought out 18 months earlier than the HX300 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-P3 scores against the HX300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Sony HX300

 E-P3 HX300 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-P3

 HX300 E-P3 
RevealedFebruary 2013August 2011Newer by 18 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k614kSharper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Sony HX300

 E-P3 HX300 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys outside measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has proportions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony HX300 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 and the HX300.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and HX300 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing specs. The picture here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and HX300.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX300 will deliver greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography information
Sony HX300 Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
43
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20MP)
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography information
Sony HX300 Street photography information
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has focus by touch
no articulating screen
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than competition (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography details
Sony HX300 Sports photography details
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low fps (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
has no phase detect AF
55
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
provides tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography factors
Sony HX300 Travel photography factors
60
has focus by touch
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
54
MP count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (623g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX300 Landscape photography highlights
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
49
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX300 Vlogging highlights
35
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have microphone port
25
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
heavier than competition (623 grams)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Sony HX300
 Olympus PEN E-P3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-08-17 2013-02-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
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 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 614 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lb) 623 gr (1.37 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $0 $339