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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Introduced January 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-300
  • Successor is Olympus E-330
Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P5
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Olympus. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and E-P3 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-300 was introduced 7 years prior to the E-P3 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-300 grades versus the E-P3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Olympus E-P3

 E-300 E-P3 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus E-300

 E-P3 E-300 
LaunchedAugust 2011January 2005Newer by 80 months
Screen dimensions3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution614k134kSharper screen (+480k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-P3

 E-300 E-P3 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-300 enjoys physical dimensions of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") and a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-P3 has sizing of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).

See the Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-300 and the E-P3.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and E-P3 is 67 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and E-P3.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus E-P3 to give greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-300 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography information
48
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (8MP)
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography details
Olympus E-P3 Street photography details
51
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch focus
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-P3 Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-300
Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
45
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
60
includes touch focus
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-300
Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
43
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (1.8 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
does not have Time Lapse mode
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging information
Olympus E-P3 Vlogging information
9
can't record video
35
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-P3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-P3
 Olympus E-300Olympus PEN E-P3
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-300 Olympus PEN E-P3
Also called as EVOLT E-300 -
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2005-01-10 2011-08-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VI
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 1.8 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 134k dots 614k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint 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 rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 200)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624 grams (1.38 pounds) 369 grams (0.81 pounds)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 51
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 536
Other
Battery life - 330 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $800 $0