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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released March 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus SH-3
Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic FZ300, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and FZ300 (12MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was introduced 4 months prior to the FZ300 and they are both of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SH-2 scores against the FZ300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic FZ300

 SH-2 FZ300 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Olympus SH-2

 FZ300 SH-2 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic FZ300

 SH-2 FZ300 
RevealedMarch 2015July 2015Similar age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-2 has got external dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ300 has measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") accompanied by a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic FZ300 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the SH-2 versus the FZ300.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-2 and FZ300 is 88 and 59 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by looking at specifications. The visual underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-2 and FZ300.

To sum up, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SH-2 to resolve more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ300
44
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
no manual focus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
46
manual focus
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ300 as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
features focus via touch
lighter than average (271g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
59
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
weather proof
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competitors in class (691 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ300
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
max shutter speed is good (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
good battery pack (380 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography info
Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography info
74
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
lighter than average (271g)
features focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
59
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
weather proof
includes focus by touch
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
more heavy than competitors in class (691 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography information
55
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
52
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
weather proof
good battery pack (380 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-2
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ300
35
pretty wide (25mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (271 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
62
rather wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone support
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competitors in class (691 grams)
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FZ300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic FZ300
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2015-03-11 2015-07-16
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 49
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 11.5fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off 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
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lbs) 691 gr (1.52 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 380 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Cost at release $399 $598