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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Launched February 2013
  • Older Model is Sony HX200V
  • Later Model is Sony HX400V
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL2 was introduced 24 months before the HX300 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PL2 grades versus the HX300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony HX300

 E-PL2 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-PL2

 HX300 E-PL2 
LaunchedFebruary 2013February 2011Fresher by 24 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX300

 E-PL2 HX300 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 provides exterior dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 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).

Check out the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 vs the HX300.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and HX300 is 85 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking specifications. The graphic underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and HX300.

Plainly, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony HX300 will give you extra detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
43
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography info
Sony HX300 Street photography info
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
50
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Sony HX300 Sports photography details
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
features tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography information
Sony HX300 Travel photography information
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (280 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
54
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (623g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography information
Sony HX300 Landscape photography information
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
49
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Sony HX300
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
25
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (623 grams)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX300
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-02-11 2013-02-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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 4:3 -
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
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
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 362 grams (0.80 pounds) 623 grams (1.37 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 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 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC -
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $0 $339