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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Olympus E-520 front
Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Revealed January 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-330
Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-300 (8MP) and the E-520 (10MP) is relatively similar and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-300 was manufactured 4 years prior to the E-520 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-300 scores vs the E-520 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Olympus E-520

 E-300 E-520 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-300

 E-520 E-300 
RevealedAugust 2008January 2005Fresher by 43 months
Screen sizing2.7"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.9")
Screen resolution230k134kClearer screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-520

 E-300 E-520 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-300 offers external measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") having a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) and the Olympus E-520 has measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-300 and the E-520.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and E-520 is 67 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specifications. The photograph underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and E-520.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Olympus E-520 to offer you more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-300 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-520 Portrait photography highlights
48
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
59
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography features
Olympus E-520 Street photography features
51
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-520 Sports photography factors
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery pack (650 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography info
Olympus E-520 Travel photography info
45
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (8MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
52
good battery pack (650 per charge)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-520 Landscape photography information
43
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (1.8")
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
does not have Timelapse mode
58
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (650 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging details
Olympus E-520 Vlogging details
9
no video recording
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-520
 Olympus E-300Olympus E-520
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-300 Olympus E-520
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2005-01-10 2008-08-20
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 45
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 1.8" 2.7"
Resolution of display 134 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624g (1.38 lbs) 552g (1.22 lbs)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 55
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.4
DXO Low light score not tested 548
Other
Battery life - 650 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $800 $400