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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Released January 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Later Model is Olympus E-330
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-3
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-300 versus Pentax K-3 II, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-300 was released 11 years earlier than the K-3 II which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-300 scores vs the K-3 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax K-3 II

 E-300 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus E-300

 K-3 II E-300 
AnnouncedApril 2015January 2005More modern by 125 months
Screen size3.2"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.4")
Screen resolution1037k134kSharper screen (+903k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-3 II

 E-300 K-3 II 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-300 comes with outer dimensions 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 Pentax K-3 II has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-300 versus Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-300 against the K-3 II.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-300 and K-3 II is 67 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-300 and K-3 II.

As you can see, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-300 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-3 II will provide more detail as a result of its extra 16 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography advice
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
79
you can focus manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Street photography camera
51
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography info
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography info
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography highlights
45
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
weather proofing
decent MP (24 megapixels)
bad battery (720 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-300
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (1.8 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
does not have Time Lapse mode
78
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
two card slots
bad battery (720 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging details
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging details
9
can't record video
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus E-300Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-300 Pentax K-3 II
Also Known as EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2005-01-10 2015-04-23
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 400 51200
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 134k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 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 (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 grams (1.38 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single 2
Launch price $800 $829