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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released November 2011
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PM2
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced January 2008
  • Successor is Sony A330
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony A300, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the A300 (10MP) is fairly similar but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and A300 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 3 years later than the A300 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-PM1 scores versus the A300 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony A300

 E-PM1 A300 
IntroducedNovember 2011January 2008Fresher by 47 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Olympus E-PM1

 A300 E-PM1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony A300

 E-PM1 A300 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony A300 has dimensions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony A300 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 against the A300.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and A300 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading specifications. The visual below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and A300.

Plainly, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-PM1 will offer you greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The younger E-PM1 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Sony A300
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
59
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography information
Sony A300 Street photography information
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
74
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography details
Sony A300 Sports photography details
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect AF
54
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography advice
Sony A300 Travel photography advice
45
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
45
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
MP count low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography factors
Sony A300 Landscape photography factors
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
missing Timelapse mode
57
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Sony A300
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony A300
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-11-23 2008-01-30
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 265g (0.58 lb) 632g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 64
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 11.4
DXO Low light score 499 538
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $499 $0