Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic FZ200

The Olympus Evolt E-300 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2004 and July 2012. The E-300 is a DSLR, while the FZ200 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-300) and a 1/2.3-inch (FZ200) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 8 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 12 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Olympus E-300		Panasonic FZ200
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Four Thirds lenses		25-600mm f/2.8
8 MP – Four Thirds sensor		12 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
no Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-400 (100 - 1,600)		ISO 100-3,200 (100 - 6,400)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (1312k dots)
1.8" LCD – 134k dots		3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
2.5 shutter flaps per second		12 shutter flaps per second
750 shots per battery charge		540 shots per battery charge
147 x 85 x 64 mm, 624 g		125 x 87 x 110 mm, 588 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus Evolt E-300 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-300 and the Panasonic FZ200 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic FZ200 is notably smaller (13 percent) than the Olympus E-300. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-300 nor the FZ200 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the FZ200 has a lens built in, whereas the E-300 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the E-300 and their specifications in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the E-300 gets 750 shots out of its Olympus BLM-1 battery, while the FZ200 can take 540 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLC12 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Olympus E-300	147 mm	85 mm	64 mm	624 g	750	n	Sep 2004	US$ 799	ebay.com
2.		Panasonic FZ200	125 mm	87 mm	110 mm	588 g	540	n	Jul 2012	US$ 599	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX50	123 mm	87 mm	106 mm	595 g	315	n	Sep 2012	US$ 429	ebay.com
4.		Canon SX60	128 mm	93 mm	114 mm	650 g	340	n	Sep 2014	US$ 549	ebay.com
5.		Canon XT	127 mm	94 mm	64 mm	540 g	400	n	Feb 2005	US$ 899	ebay.com
6.		Leica Digilux 3	146 mm	87 mm	77 mm	606 g	750	n	Sep 2006	US$ 1 499	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-1	141 mm	104 mm	81 mm	738 g	750	Y	Jun 2003	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-330	140 mm	87 mm	72 mm	637 g	750	n	Jan 2006	US$ 999	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-400	130 mm	91 mm	53 mm	435 g	500	n	Sep 2006	US$ 699	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-410	130 mm	91 mm	53 mm	435 g	500	n	Mar 2007	US$ 699	ebay.com
11.		Olympus E-500	130 mm	95 mm	66 mm	479 g	750	n	Sep 2005	US$ 599	ebay.com
12.		Olympus E-510	136 mm	92 mm	68 mm	538 g	750	n	Mar 2007	US$ 799	ebay.com
13.		Olympus E-520	136 mm	92 mm	68 mm	535 g	750	n	May 2008	US$ 699	ebay.com
14.		Olympus E-620	130 mm	94 mm	60 mm	521 g	500	n	Feb 2009	US$ 699	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic FZ100	124 mm	82 mm	92 mm	540 g	410	n	Jul 2010	US$ 499	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic FZ150	124 mm	82 mm	92 mm	528 g	410	n	Aug 2011	US$ 499	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic FZ300	132 mm	92 mm	117 mm	691 g	380	Y	Jul 2015	US$ 599	amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The FZ200 was launched at a lower price than the E-300, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-300 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Panasonic FZ200 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the FZ200 is 88 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 5.6. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the FZ200 offers a higher resolution of 12 megapixels, compared with 8 MP of the E-300. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.53μm versus 5.30μm for the E-300). However, it should be noted that the FZ200 is much more recent (by 7 years and 9 months) than the E-300, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the FZ200 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic FZ200 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the FZ200 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 20 x 15 inches or 50.8 x 38.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 16 x 12 inches or 40.6 x 30.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 13.3 x 10 inches or 33.9 x 25.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-300 are 16.3 x 12.2 inches or 41.5 x 31.1 cm for good quality, 13.1 x 9.8 inches or 33.2 x 24.9 cm for very good quality, and 10.9 x 8.2 inches or 27.6 x 20.7 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus Evolt E-300 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 400, which can be extended to ISO 100-1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 are ISO 100 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-6400.

In terms of underlying technology, the E-300 is build around a CCD sensor, while the FZ200 uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Olympus E-300	Four Thirds	8.0	3264	2448	none	20.4	10.1	-40	48
2.		Panasonic FZ200	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.1	10.8	114	37
3.		Canon SX50	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	20.3	11.2	179	47
4.		Canon SX60	1/2.3	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	19.2	10.8	127	39
5.		Canon XT	APS-C	8.0	3456	2304	none	21.8	10.8	637	60
6.		Leica Digilux 3	Four Thirds	7.4	3136	2352	none	21.0	10.6	127	53
7.		Olympus E-1	Four Thirds	4.9	2560	1920	none	20.0	9.7	-145	44
8.		Olympus E-330	Four Thirds	7.4	3136	2352	none	20.8	10.4	73	52
9.		Olympus E-400	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.0	10.6	127	53
10.		Olympus E-410	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.1	10.0	494	51
11.		Olympus E-500	Four Thirds	8.0	3264	2448	none	20.7	10.3	45	51
12.		Olympus E-510	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.2	10.0	442	52
13.		Olympus E-520	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.4	10.4	548	55
14.		Olympus E-620	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	none	21.3	10.3	536	55
15.		Panasonic FZ100	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	1080/60i	19.4	10.7	306	39
16.		Panasonic FZ150	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.4	10.9	132	40
17.		Panasonic FZ300	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	19.3	11.0	97	38
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The FZ200 indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-300 does not. The highest resolution format that the FZ200 can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the FZ200 has an electronic viewfinder (1312k dots), while the E-300 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the FZ200 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the E-300 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. On the other hand, the viewfinder of the E-300 has a higher magnification (0.5x vs 0.46x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-300, the Panasonic FZ200, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Olympus E-300	optical	n	1.8 / 134	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
2.		Panasonic FZ200	1312	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon SX50	202	n	3.0 / 461	swivel	n	1/2000s	2.2/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon SX60	922	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/2000s	6.4/s	Y	Y
5.		Canon XT	optical	n	1.8 / 115	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
6.		Leica Digilux 3	optical	n	2.5 / 207	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
7.		Olympus E-1	optical	Y	1.8 / 134	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	n
8.		Olympus E-330	optical	n	2.5 / 215	tilting	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
9.		Olympus E-400	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
10.		Olympus E-410	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
11.		Olympus E-500	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
12.		Olympus E-510	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Olympus E-520	optical	n	2.7 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	Y
14.		Olympus E-620	optical	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Panasonic FZ100	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	11.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic FZ150	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Panasonic FZ300	1440	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The E-300 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the FZ200 uses SDXC cards. The E-300 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the FZ200 only has one slot.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus Evolt E-300 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Olympus E-300	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Panasonic FZ200	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon SX50	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon SX60	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon XT	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Leica Digilux 3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Olympus E-1	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Olympus E-330	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Olympus E-400	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Olympus E-410	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Olympus E-500	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Olympus E-510	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Olympus E-520	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Olympus E-620	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Panasonic FZ100	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Panasonic FZ150	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Panasonic FZ300	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-

Both the E-300 and the FZ200 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-300 was replaced by the Olympus E-330, while the FZ200 was followed by the Panasonic FZ300. Further information on the features and operation of the E-300 and FZ200 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-300 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic FZ200 Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Olympus E-300 better than the Panasonic FZ200 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus Evolt E-300:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.5x vs 0.46x).
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 540) on a single battery charge.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2004).

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (12 vs 8MP), which boosts linear resolution by 23%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/60p video.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (460k vs 134k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the E-300 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (125x87mm vs 147x85mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the E-300).
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 7 years and 9 months of technical progress since the E-300 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the FZ200 is the clear winner of the contest (16 : 11 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-300 and the Panasonic FZ200 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the E-300 and the FZ200 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Olympus E-300	..	..	..	+	o	4.5/5	Sep 2004	US$ 799	ebay.com
2.		Panasonic FZ200	3/5	+ +	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2012	US$ 599	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX50	3/5	+ +	..	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	US$ 429	ebay.com
4.		Canon SX60	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	US$ 549	ebay.com
5.		Canon XT	..	80/100	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2005	US$ 899	ebay.com
6.		Leica Digilux 3	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2006	US$ 1 499	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-1	..	..	..	+	o	..	Jun 2003	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-330	..	..	..	+	o	..	Jan 2006	US$ 999	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-400	..	85/100	..	..	4/5	4/5	Sep 2006	US$ 699	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-410	..	86/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2007	US$ 699	ebay.com
11.		Olympus E-500	..	76/100	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2005	US$ 599	ebay.com
12.		Olympus E-510	..	89/100	..	+ +	3.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2007	US$ 799	ebay.com
13.		Olympus E-520	..	87/100	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	May 2008	US$ 699	ebay.com
14.		Olympus E-620	3/5	88/100	..	72/100	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2009	US$ 699	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic FZ100	..	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2010	US$ 499	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic FZ150	3/5	+ +	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2011	US$ 499	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic FZ300	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2015	US$ 599	amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

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