Compared to... (features & specifications)

Features and specifications wise the E-300 is pretty much ahead of the Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel), and comes fairly close to the Nikon D70 except for performance measurements (power on time, continuous shooting capability). We would expect this of a camera released a year after the 300D. Of course the E-300 has another ace up its sleeve, and that's its eight megapixel sensor, if megapixels sell then in this instance the E-300 has an obvious advantage. It's worth noting that we fully expect the EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) to be replaced this year.

 
Olympus E-300
Canon EOS 300D
Nikon D70
Price body only (not yet available) $899 $999
Price kit $999 $999 $1,299
Announced 27 Sep 04 20 Aug 03 28 Jan 04
Review You are here Click here Click here
Kit lens 14 - 45 mm F3.5 - F4.5
(28 - 90 mm equiv.) 		18 - 55 mm F3.5 - F5.6
(28.8 - 88 mm equiv.) 		18 - 70 mm F3.5 - F4.5G
(27 - 105 mm equiv.)
Body Plastic Plastic Plastic
Sensor 8 megapixel CCD 6 megapixel CMOS 6 megapixel CCD
Lens mount Four Thirds Canon EF / EF-S Nikon F
FOV crop 2.0x (Four Thirds) 1.6x 1.5x (Nikon DX)
Modes P, A, S, M, Scene, 5 preset scene Auto, P, A, S, M, A-DEP, 6 preset scene Auto, P, S, A, M, 6 preset scene
Image formats JPEG, RAW,TIFF JPEG, RAW JPEG, RAW
RAW+JPEG One RAW, One JPEG JPEG embedded in RAW One RAW, One JPEG
Image params Gradation (3 settings)
Saturation (5 settings)
Contrast (5 settings)
Sharpness (5 settings) 		Contrast (5 settings)
Sharpness (5 settings)
Saturation (5 settings)
Color tone (5 settings)
3 preset parameter sets		 Auto
Sharpness (6 settings)
Tone (6 settings)
Saturation (3 settings)
Hue (7 settings)
7 preset parameter sets
Color space sRGB, Adobe RGB sRGB, Adobe RGB sRGB (2), Adobe RGB
ISO 100 - 400 (1 EV steps)
800, 1600 via boost		 100 - 1600 (1 EV steps) 200 - 1600 (1/3 EV steps)
EV steps 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV 1/3 EV 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Exp. compen. +/- 5.0 EV +/- 2.0 EV +/- 5.0 EV
Flash exp compen. -2.0 to +2.0 EV No -3.0 to +1.0 EV
Metering ESP, CW Avg, Spot 35 zone 3D matrix, CW Avg, Spot
Shutter 30 - 1/4000 sec 30 - 1/4000 sec 30 - 1/8000 sec
Flash X-sync 1/180 sec 1/200 sec External up to 1/500 sec
AF mode Single, Continuous Not manually selectable Single, Continuous
AF area mode Auto, Single Single, Dynamic Single, Dynamic, Closest
AF assist Flash strobe, must be up Flash strobe, must be up White lamp
AF system 3-point
TTL Phase Differential 		7-point
TTL CMOS sensor		 5-point
Multi-CAM900
Continuous JPEG: 2.5 fps, 4 images
RAW: 2.5 fps, 4 images		 JPEG: 2.5 fps, 4 images
RAW: 2.5 fps, 4 images		 JPEG: 3 fps, 12 images *1
RAW: 3 fps, 4 images
Self-timer 2 or 12 sec 10 sec 2 - 20 sec
WB Auto, 8 preset, Kelvin, manual
Can be fine tuned		 Auto, 6 preset, manual Auto, 6 preset, manual
Can be fine tuned
Bracketing AE, White Balance AE, White Balance AE, White Balance
Slow sync flash 1st or 2nd Curtain 1st Curtain 1st or 2nd Curtain
Viewfinder Optical porro (mirror)
Eyepoint: 20 mm
(-3.0 to +1.0 m-1 dioptre) 		Pentamirror
Eyepoint: 20 mm
(-3.0 to +1.0 m-1 diopter) 		Pentaprism
Eyepoint: 18 mm
(-1.6 to +0.5 m-1 dioptre)
LCD 1.8", 134,000 pixels 1.8", 118,000 pixels 1.8", 130,000 pixels
Orientation sensor Yes Yes Yes
Custom functions n/a, 2 setup menus None 9 or 25 settings
Storage CF, FAT16/FAT32 CF, FAT16/FAT32 CF, FAT16/FAT32
Power Lithium-Ion BLM-1 Lithium-Ion BP-511 Lithium-Ion EN-EL3
CR2 carrier
Connectivity USB 1.1 USB 1.1 USB 2.0 (only 1.1 speed)
Text comment No No Yes, embedded in EXIF
PictBridge Yes Yes Yes
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64 mm 142 x 99 x 72 mm 140 x 111 x 78 mm
Weight (no batt) 580 g 560 g 595 g
Remote release Infrared (optional)
(Wired with vert. hand grip)		 Wired (optional)
Infrared (optional) 		Infrared (optional)
Vertical grip Yes, optional Yes, optional No
Status LCD No (uses LCD monitor) Rear of camera, backlit Top of camera, backlit
Command dials One rear One top One rear, One front
Power on 2 seconds 3 seconds Virtually instant
Shutter release Fast Fast Very fast

*1 The D70 buffers the final image rather than the 'RAW data' and at lower image sizes / qualities can shoot hundreds in a single burst.