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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 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
  • Revealed January 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Successor is Olympus E-330
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Announced May 2012
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-300 was revealed 8 years earlier than the K-01 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-300 grades vs the K-01 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax K-01

 E-300 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus E-300

 K-01 E-300 
AnnouncedMay 2012January 2005More modern by 89 months
Screen sizing3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution921k134kCrisper screen (+787k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-01

 E-300 K-01 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-300 enjoys external 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 Pentax K-01 has specifications of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") having a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-300 vs the K-01.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-300 and K-01 is 67 and 76 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at technical specs. The pic underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-300 and K-01.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-300 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-01 will resolve extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-300 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography features
48
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (8 megapixels)
74
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Street photography camera
51
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
heavier than others (561 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography details
Pentax K-01 Sports photography details
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
low fps (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery pack (540 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography info
Pentax K-01 Travel photography info
45
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
MP count low (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
65
great battery pack (540 CIPA)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
heavier than others (561g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography details
43
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (1.8")
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
missing Timelapse recording
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (540 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging info
Pentax K-01 Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
heavier than others (561 grams)
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-01
 Olympus E-300Pentax K-01
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-300 Pentax K-01
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2005-01-10 2012-05-30
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 1.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 134 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624 grams (1.38 lb) 561 grams (1.24 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 1135
Other
Battery life - 540 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
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/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $800 $899