Clicky

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510

Portability
55
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Nikon D300S front
 
Olympus E-510 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 Key Specs

Nikon D300S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 938g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Introduced November 2009
  • Older Model is Nikon D300
  • Renewed by Nikon D600
Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed November 2007
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-510
  • Replaced the Olympus E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-520
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Nikon D300S and Olympus E-510, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Nikon and Olympus. The resolution of the D300S (12MP) and the E-510 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the D300S (APS-C) and E-510 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor size.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

The D300S was released 2 years later than the E-510 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the D300S matches up against the E-510 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D300S over the Olympus E-510

 D300S E-510 
RevealedNovember 2009November 2007More recent by 25 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Nikon D300S

 E-510 D300S 

Common features in the Nikon D300S and Olympus E-510

 D300S E-510 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Nikon D300S provides outside measurements of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") with a weight of 938 grams (2.07 lbs) and the Olympus E-510 has specifications of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Examine the Nikon D300S and Olympus E-510 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the D300S compared to the E-510.

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the D300S and E-510 is 55 and 69 respectively.

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by checking specs. The graphic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the D300S and E-510.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The D300S featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Nikon D300S will give more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more modern D300S is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300S Portrait photography features
Olympus E-510 Portrait photography features
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
56
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D300S
Street photography with Olympus E-510
52
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others in class (938g)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (490g)
fixed screen
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Nikon D300S Sports photography information
Olympus E-510 Sports photography information
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
52
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Nikon D300S as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-510 as a Travel photography camera
48
weather sealing
has built in flash
heavier than others in class (938 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than others in class (490 grams)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300S Landscape photography info
Olympus E-510 Landscape photography info
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3")
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
2 card slots
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300S as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-510 as a Vlogging camera
22
has face detect autofocus
includes mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
heavier than others in class (938 grams)
9
no video
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-510 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300S and Olympus E-510
 Nikon D300SOlympus E-510
General Information
Brand Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D300S Olympus E-510
Also referred to as - EVOLT E-510
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-11-16 2007-11-23
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Full resolution 4288 x 2848 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 51 3
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 309 45
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 lb) 490g (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 70 52
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 10.0
DXO Low light rating 787 442
Other
Battery life 950 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL3e -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash Type I/SD/SDHC Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots Dual One
Pricing at launch $1,630 $550