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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
67
Features
76
Overall
70

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Launched January 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-300
  • Successor is Olympus E-330
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Revealed January 2017
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-300 and Pentax KP, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and KP (24MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and KP (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The E-300 was unveiled 13 years earlier than the KP which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-300 matches up versus the KP in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax KP

 E-300 KP 

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Olympus E-300

 KP E-300 
RevealedJanuary 2017January 2005More modern by 146 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution921k134kClearer screen (+787k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax KP

 E-300 KP 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-300 enjoys external measurements 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 KP has sizing of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") with a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-300 and Pentax KP in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-300 vs the KP.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and KP is 67 and 61 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through specifications. The pic underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-300 and KP.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-300 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax KP will provide you with extra detail having an extra 16 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax KP as a Portrait photography camera
48
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
low MP (8MP)
80
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-300
Street photography with Pentax KP
51
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
76
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
good ISO range (819,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography highlights
Pentax KP Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/24,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
low battery life (390 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography features
Pentax KP Travel photography features
45
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low MP (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
61
environment sealing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery life (390 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography features
Pentax KP Landscape photography features
43
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (1.8 inch)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (819,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
low battery life (390 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax KP as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax KP
 Olympus E-300Pentax KP
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-300 Pentax KP
Also referred to as EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2005-01-10 2017-01-26
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 400 819200
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 1.8" 3"
Resolution of display 134 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/24000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624g (1.38 lb) 703g (1.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
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 - 390 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $800 $747