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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Older Model is Sony HX200V
  • Updated by Sony HX400V
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL7 was brought out 19 months later than the HX300 which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-PL7 scores versus the HX300 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Sony HX300

 E-PL7 HX300 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014February 2013Fresher by 19 months
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-PL7

 HX300 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Sony HX300

 E-PL7 HX300 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL7 features outer dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Sony HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL7 versus the HX300.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL7 and HX300 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing simply by checking technical specs. The visual below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and HX300.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Sony HX300 will give you more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The more modern E-PL7 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography details
Sony HX300 Portrait photography details
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
43
has manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography details
Sony HX300 Street photography details
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography features
Sony HX300 Sports photography features
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
comes with tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography info
Sony HX300 Travel photography info
85
includes focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
54
decent MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (623g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography information
Sony HX300 Landscape photography information
79
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
49
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX300 as a Vlogging camera
78
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have mic port
25
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (623g)
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Sony HX300
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-09-01 2013-02-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
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 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options no built-in flash -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 357g (0.79 lb) 623g (1.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $499 $339