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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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
  • Launched July 2015
  • Replaced the Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and FZ300 (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was launched 5 years before the FZ300 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the FZ300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic FZ300

 SZ-30MR FZ300 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 FZ300 SZ-30MR 
LaunchedJuly 2015March 2011More recent by 53 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ300

 SZ-30MR FZ300 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ300 has sizing of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") accompanied by a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the FZ300.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and FZ300 is 89 and 59 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements merely by looking at technical specs. The visual here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and FZ300.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus SZ-30MR to give you greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ300
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
you can focus manually
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
Panasonic FZ300 Street photography information
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
59
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
has touch focus
weather proofing
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (691g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography advice
Panasonic FZ300 Sports photography advice
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
great max shutter speed (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery (380 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ300 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
59
great battery (380 per charge)
weather proofing
has touch focus
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
heavier than others in class (691 grams)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography advice
41
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
52
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
great battery (380 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging factors
Panasonic FZ300 Vlogging factors
34
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
62
pretty wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic socket
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than others in class (691g)
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ300
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-03-02 2015-07-16
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 49
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 691 grams (1.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images 380 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Price at launch $279 $598