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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ300

The Olympus Evolt E-500 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 (labelled Panasonic FZ330 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2005 and July 2015. The E-500 is a DSLR, while the FZ300 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-500) and a 1/2.3-inch (FZ300) 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-500
versus
Panasonic FZ300
Olympus E-500   Panasonic FZ300
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 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-400 (100 - 1,600) ISO 100-6,400
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
2.5" LCD – 215k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel touchscreen
2.5 shutter flaps per second 12 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
750 shots per battery charge380 shots per battery charge
130 x 95 x 66 mm, 479 g 132 x 92 x 117 mm, 691 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus Evolt E-500 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300? 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.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-500 and the Panasonic FZ300 are illustrated 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 size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ300
Compare E-500 versus FZ300 top
Comparison E-500 or FZ300 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic FZ300 is somewhat smaller (2 percent) than the Olympus E-500. It is noteworthy in this context that the FZ300 is splash and dust-proof, while the E-500 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the FZ300 has a lens built in, whereas the E-500 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-500 and their specifications in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the E-500 gets 750 shots out of its BLM-1 battery, while the FZ300 can take 380 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLC12 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. 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.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-500 130 mm 95 mm 66 mm 479 g 750 n Sep 2005 599ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic FZ300 132 mm 92 mm 117 mm 691 g 380 Y Jul 2015 599 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon SX60 128 mm 93 mm 114 mm 650 g 340 n Sep 2014 549ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-450 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2009 499ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-420 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2008 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-510 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 538 g 750 n Mar 2007 799ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-330 140 mm 87 mm 72 mm 637 g 750 n Jan 2006 999ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-400 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Sep 2006 699ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-300 147 mm 85 mm 64 mm 624 g 750 n Sep 2004 799ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic FZ200 125 mm 87 mm 110 mm 588 g 540 n Jul 2012 599ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic FZ150 124 mm 82 mm 92 mm 528 g 410 n Aug 2011 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ100 124 mm 82 mm 92 mm 540 g 410 n Jul 2010 499ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 599ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic L1 146 mm 87 mm 64 mm 606 g 750 n Feb 2006 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony HX400V 130 mm 93 mm 103 mm 660 g 300 n Feb 2014 499ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-500 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Panasonic FZ300 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the FZ300 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.

Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FZ300 sensor measures

Despite having a smaller sensor, the FZ300 offers a higher resolution of 12 megapixels, compared with 8 MP of the E-500. 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-500). However, it should be noted that the FZ300 is much more recent (by 9 years and 9 months) than the E-500, 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 FZ300 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic FZ300 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the FZ300 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-500 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-500 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-FZ300 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the E-500 is build around a CCD sensor, while the FZ300 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.

E-500 versus FZ300 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-500 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.710.34551
2.
 
Panasonic FZ300 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30004K/30p19.311.09738
3.
 
Canon SX60 1/2.3 14.2 4608 30721080/60p19.210.812739
4.
 
Olympus E-450 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.551256
5.
 
Olympus E-420 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.452756
6.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
7.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
8.
 
Olympus E-510 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.210.044252
9.
 
Olympus E-330 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.47352
10.
 
Olympus E-400 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.010.612753
11.
 
Olympus E-300 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.410.1-4048
12.
 
Panasonic FZ200 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p19.110.811437
13.
 
Panasonic FZ150 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p19.410.913240
14.
 
Panasonic FZ100 1/2.3 14.0 4320 32401080/60i19.410.730639
15.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
16.
 
Panasonic L1 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.48052
17.
 
Sony HX400V 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.111.462945
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The FZ300 indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-500 does not. The highest resolution format that the FZ300 can use is 4K/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the FZ300 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), while the E-500 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 FZ300 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the E-500 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the FZ300 has a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.45x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FZ300 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image 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-500optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
2.
 
Panasonic FZ3001440 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX60922 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 6.4/s Y Y
4.
 
Olympus E-450optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
5.
 
Olympus E-420optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
6.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
7.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
8.
 
Olympus E-510optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Olympus E-330optical n2.5 / 215 tilting n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
10.
 
Olympus E-400optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Olympus E-300optical n1.8 / 134 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic FZ2001312 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Panasonic FZ150202 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/2000s 12.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Panasonic FZ100202 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/2000s 11.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
16.
 
Panasonic L1optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
17.
 
Sony HX400V210 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The FZ300 has a touchscreen, while the E-500 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The FZ300 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the E-500 does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the FZ300 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Panasonic FZ300 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The E-500 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the FZ300 uses SDXC cards. The E-500 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the FZ300 only has one slot.

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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-500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-500Y- / ----2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic FZ300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
3.
 
Canon SX60Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Olympus E-450Y- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-420Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-510Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-330Y- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-400Y- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Olympus E-300Y- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic FZ200Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic FZ150Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic FZ100Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
15.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---
16.
 
Panasonic L1Y- / ----2.0---
17.
 
Sony HX400VYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the FZ300 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the E-500 does not provide wifi capability.

The FZ300 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the E-500 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the E-500 was succeeded by the Olympus E-510. Further information on the features and operation of the E-500 and FZ300 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-500 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic FZ300 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-500 or the Panasonic FZ300 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Advantages of the Olympus Evolt E-500:

  • 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.
  • More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 380) 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 2005).

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Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300:

  • 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 4K/30p 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 viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.45x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 215k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • 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.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the E-500 requires a separate lens.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • More modern: Reflects 9 years and 9 months of technical progress since the E-500 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the FZ300 is the clear winner of the contest (19 : 10 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-500 10:19 FZ300

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-500 and the Panasonic FZ300 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 technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-500 or the FZ300. 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 following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-500..76/100..+ +.... Sep 2005 599ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic FZ300..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 599 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon SX603/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 549ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-450........4/54/5 Mar 2009 499ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-420..85/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2008 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-510..89/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Mar 2007 799ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-330......+o.. Jan 2006 999ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-400..85/100....4/54/5 Sep 2006 699ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-300......+o4.5/5 Sep 2004 799ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic FZ2003/5+ +..80/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2012 599ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic FZ1503/5+ +..76/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2011 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ100..+....4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2010 499ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 599ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic L1..85/100..+..3.5/5 Feb 2006 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony HX400V4/5+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 499ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ300

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic FZ300
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses 25-600mm f/2.8
    Launch Date September 2005 July 2015
    Launch Price USD 599 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-500 Panasonic FZ300
    Sensor Technology CCD BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 28.0735 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 8 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3264 x 2448 pixels 4000 x 3000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.30 μm 1.53 μm
    Pixel Density 3.55 MP/cm2 42.74 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability no Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 400 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 1,600 ISO no Enhancement
    Image Processor TruePic Venus
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 38
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 19.3
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 11.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 97
    Screen Specs Olympus E-500 Panasonic FZ300
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.45x 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View
    Rear LCD Size 2.5inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 215k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-500 Panasonic FZ300
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 2.5 shutter flaps/s 12 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/16000s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF or XD cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-500 Panasonic FZ300
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Body Specs Olympus E-500 Panasonic FZ300
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type BLM-1 DMW-BLC12
    Battery Life (CIPA)750 shots per charge380 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66 mm
    (5.1 x 3.7 x 2.6 in)
    132 x 92 x 117 mm
    (5.2 x 3.6 x 4.6 in)
    Camera Weight 479 g (16.9 oz) 691 g (24.4 oz)
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