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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 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
  • Revealed January 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-330
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-300 and Pentax S1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and S1 (14MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-300 was released 7 years prior to the S1 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-300 matches up vs the S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax S1

 E-300 S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Olympus E-300

 S1 E-300 
ReleasedMarch 2011January 2005Fresher by 74 months
Screen size2.7"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.9")
Screen resolution230k134kSharper screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax S1

 E-300 S1 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-300 has physical dimensions of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") along with a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) and the Pentax S1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-300 and Pentax S1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-300 versus the S1.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and S1 is 67 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The photograph below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and S1.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-300 due to its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax S1 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-300 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography information
Pentax S1 Portrait photography information
48
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (8MP)
35
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography info
Pentax S1 Street photography info
51
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography info
Pentax S1 Sports photography info
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography highlights
Pentax S1 Travel photography highlights
45
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (8MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-300
Landscape photography with Pentax S1
43
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (1.8 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
42
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging info
Pentax S1 Vlogging info
9
can't record video
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax S1
 Olympus E-300Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-300 Pentax Optio S1
Also referred to as EVOLT E-300 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2005-01-10 2011-03-02
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8" 2.7"
Screen resolution 134k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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
Mic 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 624g (1.38 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Physical 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 shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $800 $174