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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Introduced January 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-300
  • Successor is Olympus E-330
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-S1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The E-300 was introduced 11 years earlier than the K-S2 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-300 matches up versus the K-S2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax K-S2

 E-300 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus E-300

 K-S2 E-300 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015January 2005More recent by 122 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution921k134kSharper display (+787k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-S2

 E-300 K-S2 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-300 offers outside dimensions of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S2 has sizing of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-300 compared to the K-S2.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-300 and K-S2 is 67 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements merely by looking at specs. The visual below may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-300 and K-S2.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-300 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will give you greater detail using its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-300 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography info
48
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (8MP)
78
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-300
Street photography with Pentax K-S2
51
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than average (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography features
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography features
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
70
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
low battery pack (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography advice
45
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
low battery pack (410 CIPA)
more heavy than average (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography info
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (1.8 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
no Time Lapse function
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
low battery pack (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging details
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
71
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone socket
more heavy than average (678g)
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus E-300Pentax K-S2
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-300 Pentax K-S2
Also Known as EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2005-01-10 2015-02-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME MII
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 8 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 400 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 1.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 134 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AEB
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624 gr (1.38 pounds) 678 gr (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
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 - 410 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $800 $581