Olympus E-300 vs Sony A850

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-300 and Sony A850, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and A850 (25MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and A850 (Full frame) feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-300 was launched 6 years before the A850 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-300 scores vs the A850 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-300 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-300 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-300 comes with external measurements 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 Sony A850 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-300 and Sony A850 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-300 against the A850.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-300 and A850 is 67 and 54 respectively.

Normally, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing specifications. The pic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-300 and A850.

Plainly, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-300 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A850 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 17MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-300 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.