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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax Optio W80 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 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
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-300
  • Replacement is Olympus E-330
Pentax W80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 156g - 100 x 56 x 25mm
  • Announced June 2009
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and W80 (12MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and W80 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-300 was released 5 years prior to the W80 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-300 matches up vs the W80 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax W80

 E-300 W80 

Reasons to pick Pentax W80 over the Olympus E-300

 W80 E-300 
AnnouncedJune 2009January 2005Newer by 54 months
Screen sizing2.5"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution230k134kCrisper screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax W80

 E-300 W80 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you should factor its weight and size. 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) and the Pentax W80 has specifications of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-300 versus the W80.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and W80 is 67 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at technical specs. The image here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and W80.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-300 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Pentax W80 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged E-300 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 Portrait photography features
Pentax W80 Portrait photography features
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (8MP)
27
manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-300
Street photography with Pentax W80
51
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
54
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography highlights
Pentax W80 Sports photography highlights
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
24
weather sealing
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography info
Pentax W80 Travel photography info
45
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
64
weather sealing
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
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 W80
43
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (1.8")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
lack of Time Lapse function
37
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
weather sealing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-300
Vlogging with Pentax W80
9
lack of video recording
25
rather wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax W80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax W80
 Olympus E-300Pentax Optio W80
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-300 Pentax Optio W80
Also called EVOLT E-300 -
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2005-01-10 2009-06-25
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 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
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 - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 1.8" 2.5"
Screen resolution 134 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
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)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 gr (1.38 lb) 156 gr (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 100 x 56 x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 model - D-LI78
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 card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $800 $250