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Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 Key Specs

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
  • Announced March 2009
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced January 2008
  • Newer Model is Sony A330
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Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus E-30 versus Sony A300, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the A300 (10MP) is pretty similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and A300 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The E-30 was revealed 14 months after the A300 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-30 scores versus the A300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Sony A300

 E-30 A300 
IntroducedMarch 2009January 2008More modern by 14 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Olympus E-30

 A300 E-30 

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Sony A300

 E-30 A300 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen size
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 enjoys external dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Sony A300 has sizing of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-30 versus Sony A300 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-30 vs the A300.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and A300 is 60 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by reading a spec sheet. The picture below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and A300.

As you can see, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-30 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus E-30 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-30 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-30
Portrait photography with Sony A300
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
59
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography info
Sony A300 Street photography info
72
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Sony A300
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (750 shots)
54
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A300 as a Travel photography camera
49
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (750 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
45
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography factors
Sony A300 Landscape photography factors
52
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery life (750 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
57
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Sony A300
18
no video recording
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-30 vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Sony A300
 Olympus E-30Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-03-24 2008-01-30
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lb) 632 grams (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 64
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.4
DXO Low light rating 530 538
Other
Battery life 750 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card Compact Flash
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $1,299 $0