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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 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
  • Announced January 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Successor is Olympus E-330
Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-300 versus Olympus E-PL9, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both sold by Olympus. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-300 was brought out 14 years before the E-PL9 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-300 matches up against the E-PL9 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Olympus E-PL9

 E-300 E-PL9 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus E-300

 E-PL9 E-300 
IntroducedFebruary 2018January 2005Fresher by 159 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution1040k134kCrisper screen (+906k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-PL9

 E-300 E-PL9 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-300 provides outside 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) while the Olympus E-PL9 has dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-300 versus Olympus E-PL9 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-300 compared to the E-PL9.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and E-PL9 is 67 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and E-PL9.

As you can see, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Olympus E-PL9 to provide you with more detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-300 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography factors
48
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL9 Street photography details
51
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography factors
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
69
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
45
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
77
supports bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography information
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (1.8 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
does not have Timelapse recording
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-300
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
9
can't shoot video
35
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-300 vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Olympus E-PL9
 Olympus E-300Olympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-300 Olympus PEN E-PL9
Other name EVOLT E-300 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2005-01-10 2018-02-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic VIII
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 16MP
Anti alias 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 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 121
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 1.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 134k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 8.6 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624 gr (1.38 pounds) 380 gr (0.84 pounds)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 350 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $800 $599