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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Revealed January 2016
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX200V
  • Renewed by Sony HX400V
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus PEN-F and Sony HX300, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The PEN-F was released 2 years after the HX300 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the PEN-F matches up vs the HX300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony HX300

 PEN-F HX300 
IntroducedJanuary 2016February 2013Newer by 36 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k921kSharper screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus PEN-F

 HX300 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony HX300

 PEN-F HX300 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F offers exterior measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony HX300 has dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Examine the Olympus PEN-F and Sony HX300 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the PEN-F compared to the HX300.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the PEN-F and HX300 is 84 and 63 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specs. The image here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and HX300.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer the same exact resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The PEN-F features the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult. The more modern PEN-F should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
75
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
42
has manual focus
MP count decent (20MP)
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography details
Sony HX300 Street photography details
84
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competitors (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography factors
Sony HX300 Sports photography factors
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low battery life (330 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography features
Sony HX300 Travel photography features
75
provides touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
low battery life (330 per charge)
54
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (623g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography info
Sony HX300 Landscape photography info
76
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (330 shots)
48
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging features
Sony HX300 Vlogging features
78
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
missing microphone jack
25
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
heavier than competitors (623g)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Sony HX300
 Olympus PEN-FSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN-F Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-01-27 2013-02-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lbs) 623 grams (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,000 $339