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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Introduced January 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-300
  • Successor is Olympus E-330
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Introduced June 2011
  • Replacement is Pentax Q10
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-300 and Pentax Q, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and Q (12MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and Q (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-300 was unveiled 7 years earlier than the Q and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-300 scores vs the Q when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Pentax Q

 E-300 Q 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Olympus E-300

 Q E-300 
IntroducedJune 2011January 2005Fresher by 78 months
Display dimensions3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution460k134kClearer display (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Pentax Q

 E-300 Q 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-300 provides 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 Q has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") along with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-300 and Pentax Q in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-300 versus the Q.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-300 and Q is 67 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by seeing technical specs. The graphic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-300 and Q.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-300 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Pentax Q will produce greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The older E-300 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
45
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography info
Pentax Q Street photography info
51
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (180 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography features
Pentax Q Sports photography features
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
31
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 Travel photography highlights
Pentax Q Travel photography highlights
45
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (8MP)
display is not selfie friendly
57
lighter than others in class (180 grams)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography factors
Pentax Q Landscape photography factors
43
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (1.8")
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
lack of Time Lapse mode
51
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging details
Pentax Q Vlogging details
9
no video shooting
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (180g)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-300 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Pentax Q
 Olympus E-300Pentax Q
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-300 Pentax Q
Also called as EVOLT E-300 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2005-01-10 2011-06-23
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 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 -
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Total lenses 45 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 134 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 624 grams (1.38 pounds) 180 grams (0.40 pounds)
Physical dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 47
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 189
Other
Battery life - 230 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $800 $695