Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300
86 Imaging
47 Features
42 Overall
45


64 Imaging
49 Features
45 Overall
47
Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
- Introduced April 2010
- Previous Model is Olympus E-P1
- Refreshed by Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
- 10MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.7" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
- Released January 2008
- Updated by Sony A330

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300 Overview
Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the A300 (10MP) is pretty close but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and A300 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

The E-P2 was released 2 years later than the A300 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-P2 grades against the A300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-P2 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A300. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-P2 Gallery & Sony A300 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Sony A300
E-P2 | A300 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | April 2010 | ![]() | January 2008 | Fresher by 28 months |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Olympus E-P2
A300 | E-P2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Sony A300
E-P2 | A300 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | The same screen resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither includes selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither includes Touch friendly screen |
Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-P2 features outside dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Sony A300 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).
Examine the Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-P2 and the A300.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and A300 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison
Often, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing simply by looking through specs. The visual below may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P2 and A300.
All in all, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-P2 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus E-P2 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The newer E-P2 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A300 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-P2 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus PEN E-P2 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level DSLR |
Introduced | 2010-04-22 | 2008-01-30 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | TruePic V | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.6 x 15.8mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 372.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | - |
Full resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 3872 x 2592 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Available lenses | 107 | 143 |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Screen diagonal | 3 inch | 2.7 inch |
Screen resolution | 230k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen technology | HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.49x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 3.0 frames per sec | 3.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/180 secs | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | - |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | - |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 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 | 355 grams (0.78 lbs) | 632 grams (1.39 lbs) |
Dimensions | 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") | 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | 56 | 64 |
DXO Color Depth score | 21.5 | 22.5 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.4 | 11.4 |
DXO Low light score | 505 | 538 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 pictures | - |
Battery type | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | BLS-1 | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC card | Compact Flash |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Price at launch | $799 | $0 |