Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony H300

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony H300, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and H300 (20MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and H300 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was revealed 4 years prior to the H300 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony H300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the XZ-1 scores vs the H300 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus XZ-1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300. The full galleries are provided at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery and Sony H300 Gallery.

When you are going to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-1 comes with external dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Sony H300 has specifications of 130mm x 95mm x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8") along with a weight of 590 grams (1.30 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony H300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the XZ-1 versus the H300.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-1 and H300 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Sometimes, its difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The image underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-1 and H300.

As you can see, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XZ-1 with its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Sony H300 will deliver more detail because of its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged XZ-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.