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Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30

Portability
55
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Nikon D300S front
 
Olympus E-30 front
Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 Key Specs

Nikon D300S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 938g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Revealed November 2009
  • Replaced the Nikon D300
  • Later Model is Nikon D600
Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Launched March 2009
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Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Nikon D300S and Olympus E-30, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Nikon and Olympus. The image resolution of the D300S (12MP) and the E-30 (12MP) is very well matched but the D300S (APS-C) and E-30 (Four Thirds) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The D300S was unveiled 8 months after the E-30 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise view of how the D300S scores versus the E-30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300S over the Olympus E-30

 D300S E-30 
LaunchedNovember 2009March 2009More modern by 8 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Nikon D300S

 E-30 D300S 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D300S and Olympus E-30

 D300S E-30 
Manual focus More exact focus
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon D300S features physical dimensions of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") along with a weight of 938 grams (2.07 lbs) while the Olympus E-30 has sizing of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D300S and Olympus E-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the D300S vs the E-30.

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D300S and E-30 is 55 and 60 respectively.

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at technical specs. The image here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the D300S and E-30.

As you have seen, each of these cameras posses the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The D300S has got the larger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The fresher D300S will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300S Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-30 Portrait photography factors
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
59
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D300S
Street photography with Olympus E-30
52
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (938g)
72
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300S as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (750 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300S Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-30 Travel photography highlights
48
weather proofing
built-in flash
heavier than competitors in class (938g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
49
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (750 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300S Landscape photography information
Olympus E-30 Landscape photography information
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
52
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (750 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300S Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-30 Vlogging highlights
22
provides face detect focusing
has mic support
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
heavier than competitors in class (938 grams)
18
no video
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Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300S and Olympus E-30
 Nikon D300SOlympus E-30
General Information
Brand Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D300S Olympus E-30
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-11-16 2009-03-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 2848 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 51 11
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 309 45
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle HyperCrystal II LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.56x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (24 fps), 320 x 240 (24 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 938g (2.07 pounds) 695g (1.53 pounds)
Dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 70 55
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 21.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 10.4
DXO Low light rating 787 530
Other
Battery life 950 photographs 750 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL3e BLM-1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash Type I/SD/SDHC Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card
Storage slots Two Single
Pricing at launch $1,630 $1,299