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Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500

Portability
55
Imaging
51
Features
59
Overall
54
Nikon D300 front
 
Olympus E-500 front
Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38

Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 Key Specs

Nikon D300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 925g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Released March 2008
  • Replaced the Nikon D200
  • Updated by Nikon D300S
Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Released October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-510
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Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Nikon D300 and Olympus E-500, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Nikon and Olympus. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the D300 (12MP) and E-500 (8MP) and the D300 (APS-C) and E-500 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The D300 was launched 2 years later than the E-500 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the D300 scores vs the E-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300 over the Olympus E-500

 D300 E-500 
ReleasedMarch 2008October 2005More recent by 30 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k215kClearer screen (+707k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Nikon D300

 E-500 D300 

Common features in the Nikon D300 and Olympus E-500

 D300 E-500 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon D300 comes with outer dimensions of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") having a weight of 925 grams (2.04 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-500 has sizing of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D300 and Olympus E-500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the D300 against the E-500.

Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D300 and E-500 is 55 and 70 respectively.

Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the D300 and E-500.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The D300 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon D300 will show extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The fresher D300 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
49
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
MP count low (8 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D300 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
56
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
57
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (479g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
56
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
great battery pack (1,000 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
56
great battery pack (1,000 shots)
environment sealing
built-in flash
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
lighter than others (479 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
MP count low (8 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D300
Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
64
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
great battery pack (1,000 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
43
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300 Vlogging info
Olympus E-500 Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
9
can't shoot video
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Nikon D300 vs Olympus E-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300 and Olympus E-500
 Nikon D300Olympus E-500
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D300 Olympus E-500
Also called as - EVOLT E-500
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2008-03-12 2005-10-21
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 8 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Full resolution 4288 x 2848 3264 x 2448
Max native ISO 3200 400
Max boosted ISO 6400 1600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 51 3
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 309 45
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 922 thousand dots 215 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.45x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 925g (2.04 lb) 479g (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 679 not tested
Other
Battery life 1000 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL3e -
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots One One
Price at launch $1,100 $600