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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released May 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX200V
  • Replacement is Sony HX400V
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 Overview

The following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony HX300, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was released 3 months after the HX300 so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-PM2 matches up versus the HX300 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony HX300

 E-PM2 HX300 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-PM2

 HX300 E-PM2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX300

 E-PM2 HX300 
RevealedMay 2013February 2013Same generation
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has measurements of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony HX300 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the HX300.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and HX300 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by going through specifications. The pic below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and HX300.

Plainly, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX300 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Sony HX300
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
43
manual focus
decent MP (20MP)
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Street photography camera
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography info
Sony HX300 Sports photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography features
Sony HX300 Travel photography features
66
features touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
54
decent MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (623g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX300 Landscape photography highlights
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse function
49
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Sony HX300
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
25
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (623g)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX300
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-05-21 2013-02-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 269 gr (0.59 lb) 623 gr (1.37 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 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 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $448 $339