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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview

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.

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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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic FZ300

 E-PL8 FZ300 
RevealedSeptember 2016July 2015More recent by 15 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Olympus E-PL8

 FZ300 E-PL8 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k1037kSharper display (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic FZ300

 E-PL8 FZ300 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FZ300 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
46
has manual focus
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography information
Panasonic FZ300 Street photography information
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
59
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
supports focus via touch
environment sealing
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than others (691g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FZ300 Sports photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
high shutter speed (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery power (380 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ300 as a Travel photography camera
71
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
better than average battery power (380 shots)
environment sealing
supports focus via touch
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
more heavy than others (691 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL8
Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ300
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
52
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging features
35
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone jack
62
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than others (691 grams)
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic FZ300
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-09-19 2015-07-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 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 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357g (0.79 pounds) 691g (1.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 380 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $500 $598