Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ300
85 Imaging
48 Features
47 Overall
47
59 Imaging
37 Features
73 Overall
51
Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
- Announced February 2011
- Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
- Successor is Olympus E-PL3
(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
- Introduced July 2015
- Succeeded the Panasonic FZ200
Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview
On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ300, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the FZ300 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and FZ300 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizes.
Photography GlossaryThe E-PL2 was launched 5 years before the FZ300 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.
Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PL2 scores vs the FZ300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL2 Gallery & Panasonic FZ300 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic FZ300
E-PL2 | FZ300 |
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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Olympus E-PL2
FZ300 | E-PL2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | July 2015 | February 2011 | More recent by 53 months | |
Screen type | Fully Articulated | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen | |
Screen resolution | 1040k | 460k | Clearer screen (+580k dot) | |
Selfie screen | Take selfies | |||
Touch friendly screen | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ300
E-PL2 | FZ300 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | More precise focusing | |||
Screen dimensions | 3" | 3" | Equal screen dimensions |
Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison
If you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 has external measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ300 has specifications of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") having a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).
See the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ300 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL2 versus the FZ300.
Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and FZ300 is 85 and 59 respectively.
Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison
Often, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and FZ300.
Clearly, both of the cameras provide the same MP albeit different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 comes with the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF easier. The older E-PL2 will be behind in sensor technology.
Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL2 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL2 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 |
Class | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Announced | 2011-02-11 | 2015-07-16 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | SLR-like (bridge) |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Truepic V | Venus Engine |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4000 x 3000 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 49 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 25-600mm (24.0x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/2.8 |
Macro focus distance | - | 1cm |
Available lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 460 thousand dots | 1,040 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Display tech | HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,440 thousand dots |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60 seconds | 60 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/16000 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | 3.0 frames per sec | 12.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 10.00 m | 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | 1/160 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 3840x2160 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 362 grams (0.80 lbs) | 691 grams (1.52 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") | 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 55 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | 21.4 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.2 | not tested |
DXO Low light score | 573 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 280 pictures | 380 pictures |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLS-5 | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC | SD/SDHC/SDXC card |
Card slots | One | One |
Price at release | $0 | $598 |