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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Revealed January 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-300
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-330
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Replaced the Pentax K-1
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-300 versus Pentax K-1 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and K-1 II (Full frame) posses different sensor measurements.

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The E-300 was announced 14 years prior to the K-1 II and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-300 matches up versus the K-1 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax K-1 II

 E-300 K-1 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Olympus E-300

 K-1 II E-300 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018January 2005More recent by 159 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3.2"1.8"Larger display (+1.4")
Display resolution1037k134kSharper display (+903k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-1 II

 E-300 K-1 II 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-300 has got outer measurements of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") with a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 II has measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") along with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-300 versus Pentax K-1 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-300 compared to the K-1 II.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and K-1 II is 67 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements simply by checking specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and K-1 II.

All in all, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-300 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-1 II will give extra detail with its extra 28MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older E-300 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography advice
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
86
manual focus
high MP (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography details
Pentax K-1 II Street photography details
51
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
very good high ISO (819,200)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography information
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography information
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
77
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 fps)
bad battery pack (670 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-300
Travel photography with Pentax K-1 II
45
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
53
weather sealing
high MP (36 megapixels)
bad battery pack (670 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-300
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1 II
43
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (1.8")
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
missing Time Lapse mode
82
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high MP (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (819,200)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
bad battery pack (670 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone port
does not have selfie friendly screen
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-1 II
 Olympus E-300Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-300 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Also Known as EVOLT E-300 -
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2005-01-10 2018-02-22
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 400 819200
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF4
Total lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 1.8 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 134k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624 grams (1.38 pounds) 1010 grams (2.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 670 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots One Two
Launch price $800 $1,737