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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Released January 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-330
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

The following is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-300 versus Pentax K-5 II, both Advanced DSLR cameras by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-300 was launched 9 years before the K-5 II which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-300 matches up versus the K-5 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax K-5 II

 E-300 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Olympus E-300

 K-5 II E-300 
ReleasedJune 2013January 2005Newer by 102 months
Display size3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution921k134kSharper display (+787k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-5 II

 E-300 K-5 II 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-300 enjoys exterior dimensions of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") and a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 II has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-300 versus Pentax K-5 II in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-300 and the K-5 II.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and K-5 II is 67 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions merely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and K-5 II.

As you can see, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-300 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 II will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography advice
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography details
Pentax K-5 II Street photography details
51
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-300
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 II
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography advice
45
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
weather proofing
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography advice
43
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (1.8 inches)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
does not have Time Lapse function
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-5 II
 Olympus E-300Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-300 Pentax K-5 II
Also called as EVOLT E-300 -
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2005-01-10 2013-06-04
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8" 3"
Resolution of screen 134k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624g (1.38 lbs) 760g (1.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1235
Other
Battery life - 980 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $800 $830