Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony A300

Here is a complete review of the Olympus XZ-10 versus Sony A300, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the XZ-10 (12MP) and the A300 (10MP) is relatively close but the XZ-10 (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-10 was brought out 5 years later than the A300 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the XZ-10 matches up against the A300 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus XZ-10 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A300. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus XZ-10 Gallery & Sony A300 Gallery.

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus XZ-10 comes with outside dimensions of 102mm x 61mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony A300 has proportions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Olympus XZ-10 versus Sony A300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the XZ-10 versus the A300.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-10 and A300 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through technical specs. The visual below may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-10 and A300.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The XZ-10 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Olympus XZ-10 will provide you with extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The newer XZ-10 should have a benefit in sensor technology.