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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Introduced January 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Renewed by Olympus E-330
Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are created by Olympus. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and E-PL2 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-300 was revealed 7 years prior to the E-PL2 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech 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-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-300 matches up against the E-PL2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Olympus E-PL2

 E-300 E-PL2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus E-300

 E-PL2 E-300 
LaunchedFebruary 2011January 2005Newer by 74 months
Screen dimension3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution460k134kSharper screen (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-PL2

 E-300 E-PL2 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-300 has got exterior measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") along with a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL2 has sizing of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-300 vs the E-PL2.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and E-PL2 is 67 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to envision the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking specs. The pic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and E-PL2.

All in all, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Olympus E-PL2 to give you extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged E-300 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-300
Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
51
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography features
Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography features
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
45
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (280 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (1.8 inches)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
missing Timelapse mode
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging information
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging information
9
no video recording
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus E-300Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-300 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Also Known as EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2005-01-10 2011-02-11
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 8 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 1.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 134 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 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)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 gr (1.38 lb) 362 gr (0.80 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 55
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.2
DXO Low light score not tested 573
Other
Battery life - 280 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $800 $0