Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-3, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The E-300 was released 10 years earlier than the K-3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-300 grades vs the K-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-3. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-300 Gallery and Pentax K-3 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-300 has got exterior measurements 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-3 has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-300 and the K-3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-300 and K-3 is 67 and 59 respectively.

More often than not, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The graphic here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-300 and K-3.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-300 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-3 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images more aggressively. The older E-300 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.