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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Superseded the Sony HX200V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX400V
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was released 17 months before the HX300 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the HX300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony HX300

 E-PL3 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-PL3

 HX300 E-PL3 
LaunchedFebruary 2013September 2011Fresher by 17 months
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony HX300

 E-PL3 HX300 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 offers physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst 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).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 against the HX300.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and HX300 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and HX300.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX300 will render more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX300 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
43
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Sony HX300
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
Sony HX300 Sports photography details
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
55
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
offers tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Travel photography camera
44
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
54
good megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (623g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Sony HX300
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone port
25
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
heavier than competition (623 grams)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony HX300
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-09-20 2013-02-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 data format AVCHD, 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 pounds) 623 gr (1.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $399 $339