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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Revealed January 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Updated by Olympus E-330
Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-300 versus Olympus E-P1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Olympus. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and E-P1 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-300 was revealed 5 years prior to the E-P1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-300 grades vs the E-P1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Olympus E-P1

 E-300 E-P1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus E-300

 E-P1 E-300 
AnnouncedJuly 2009January 2005More modern by 55 months
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution230k134kSharper screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-P1

 E-300 E-P1 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-300 offers outer measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") and a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) while the Olympus E-P1 has measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-300 versus Olympus E-P1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-300 and the E-P1.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and E-P1 is 67 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking specs. The picture below may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and E-P1.

All in all, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Olympus E-P1 to give you more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-300 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography features
48
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography info
Olympus E-P1 Street photography info
51
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-P1 Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-300
Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
45
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
43
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography details
43
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (1.8")
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
no Timelapse function
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-P1 Vlogging advice
9
no video
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-P1
 Olympus E-300Olympus PEN E-P1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-300 Olympus PEN E-P1
Alternative name EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2005-01-10 2009-07-29
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 134k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 grams (1.38 lbs) 355 grams (0.78 lbs)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
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 536
Other
Battery life - 300 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $800 $182