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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Launched January 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-330
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and RS1500 (14MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-300 was announced 7 years prior to the RS1500 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-300 grades against the RS1500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax RS1500

 E-300 RS1500 

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus E-300

 RS1500 E-300 
ReleasedMarch 2011January 2005Newer by 75 months
Screen dimension2.7"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.9")
Screen resolution230k134kCrisper screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax RS1500

 E-300 RS1500 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-300 has got outer dimensions of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") with a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-300 and the RS1500.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and RS1500 is 67 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions only by viewing specs. The image here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and RS1500.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-300 having a bigger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Pentax RS1500 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged E-300 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-300
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
48
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
low MP (8MP)
35
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography information
Pentax RS1500 Street photography information
51
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-300
Sports photography with Pentax RS1500
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
37
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography information
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography information
45
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low MP (8 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
67
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-300
Landscape photography with Pentax RS1500
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inches)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
missing Timelapse mode
40
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging information
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging information
9
lack of video recording
25
pretty wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone support
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus E-300Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-300 Pentax Optio RS1500
Also referred to as EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2005-01-10 2011-03-16
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 1.8 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 134 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 grams (1.38 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $800 $150