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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 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
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-300
  • New Model is Olympus E-330
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL9
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-PL8, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and E-PL8 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-300 was introduced 12 years before the E-PL8 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera 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-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-300 grades vs the E-PL8 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-300 E-PL8 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-300

 E-PL8 E-300 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016January 2005More modern by 142 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution1037k134kSharper screen (+903k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-300 E-PL8 
Focus manually More precise focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-300 comes with 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) and the Olympus E-PL8 has sizing of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

See the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-PL8 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-300 and the E-PL8.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and E-PL8 is 67 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by viewing specifications. The image underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and E-PL8.

Plainly, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should count on the Olympus E-PL8 to render more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography information
48
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (8MP)
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-300
Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
51
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography factors
45
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography factors
43
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inches)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Timelapse function
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging details
Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
35
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus E-300Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-300 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-300 -
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2005-01-10 2016-09-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
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 8 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 400 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 1.8" 3"
Display resolution 134 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 624g (1.38 lbs) 357g (0.79 lbs)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 350 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $800 $500