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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Announced July 2015
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview

Following is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FZ300, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the FZ300 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and FZ300 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was announced 4 years prior to the FZ300 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-PM1 scores against the FZ300 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic FZ300

 E-PM1 FZ300 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Olympus E-PM1

 FZ300 E-PM1 
AnnouncedJuly 2015November 2011More modern by 44 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FZ300

 E-PM1 FZ300 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ300 has dimensions of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") along with a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FZ300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the FZ300.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and FZ300 is 89 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through technical specs. The pic below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and FZ300.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PM1 comes with the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult. The more aged E-PM1 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography features
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
46
you can focus manually
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FZ300 Street photography highlights
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
59
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
has touch to focus
environment proof
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (691g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ300
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have phase detect autofocus
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
great max shutter speed (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography features
Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography features
45
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
good battery pack (380 per charge)
environment proof
has touch to focus
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
heavier than competition in class (691g)
MP count low (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography factors
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
52
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
environment proof
good battery pack (380 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging features
Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging features
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
62
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has mic socket
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition in class (691 grams)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FZ300
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-11-23 2015-07-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max 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) 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 format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 691 grams (1.52 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 380 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $499 $598