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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
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
  • Released July 2015
  • Replaced the Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and FZ300 (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and FZ300 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was announced 3 years earlier than the FZ300 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PM2 matches up vs the FZ300 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic FZ300

 E-PM2 FZ300 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Olympus E-PM2

 FZ300 E-PM2 
ReleasedJuly 2015May 2013More modern by 26 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FZ300

 E-PM2 FZ300 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 offers outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ300 has measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") along with a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM2 against the FZ300.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and FZ300 is 89 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and FZ300.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-PM2 will give you more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PM2 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
46
manual focus
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography features
Panasonic FZ300 Street photography features
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
59
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
has touch to focus
environment proof
small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (691 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography information
Panasonic FZ300 Sports photography information
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
has no phase detect AF
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
great max shutter speed (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery life (380 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ300 as a Travel photography camera
66
provides touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
59
great battery life (380 CIPA)
environment proof
has touch to focus
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
more heavy than others in class (691 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
missing Time Lapse recording
52
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging details
Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging details
36
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
62
relatively wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone support
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than others in class (691g)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FZ300
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-05-21 2015-07-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (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 file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 691 grams (1.52 pounds)
Physical 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 rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 380 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $448 $598