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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Revealed January 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Replacement is Olympus E-330
Olympus E-P2
(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
  • Launched April 2010
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Successor is Olympus E-P3
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-P2, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Olympus. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and E-P2 (12MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-300 was brought out 6 years earlier than the E-P2 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-300 matches up against the E-P2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Olympus E-P2

 E-300 E-P2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus E-300

 E-P2 E-300 
LaunchedApril 2010January 2005More recent by 64 months
Screen dimension3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution230k134kCrisper screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-P2

 E-300 E-P2 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-300 provides external dimensions of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") with a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-P2 has specifications 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 and Olympus E-P2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-300 versus the E-P2.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and E-P2 is 67 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through specs. The photograph here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and E-P2.

All in all, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Olympus E-P2 to resolve extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older E-300 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography information
48
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-P2 Street photography highlights
51
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography information
Olympus E-P2 Sports photography information
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-300
Travel photography with Olympus E-P2
45
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
43
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography info
43
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inch)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
no Time Lapse mode
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging information
Olympus E-P2 Vlogging information
9
no video shooting
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-P2
 Olympus E-300Olympus PEN E-P2
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-300 Olympus PEN E-P2
Also Known as EVOLT E-300 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2005-01-10 2010-04-22
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 4:3
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 134 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 grams (1.38 lbs) 355 grams (0.78 lbs)
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 All around score not tested 56
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.4
DXO Low light score not tested 505
Other
Battery life - 300 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $800 $799