Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A300

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Sony A300, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the A300 (10MP) is very similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and A300 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was revealed 2 years after the A300 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PL1 grades against the A300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A300. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery & Sony A300 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 provides exterior dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Sony A300 has sizing of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Sony A300 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL1 against the A300.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and A300 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Typically, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by going over specifications. The picture below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and A300.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus E-PL1 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-PL1 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.