Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and FZ300 (12MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and FZ300 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was brought out 15 months later than the FZ300 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL8 grades vs the FZ300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Panasonic FZ300 Gallery.

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 enjoys exterior 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) while the Panasonic FZ300 has measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") with a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL8 vs the FZ300.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and FZ300 is 86 and 59 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements just by checking out technical specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and FZ300.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL8 will show more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.