Canon 10D vs Olympus E-300

The Canon EOS 10D and the Olympus Evolt E-300 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2003 and September 2004. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (10D) and a Four Thirds (E-300) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 6.3 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 10D		Olympus E-300
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Four Thirds lenses
6.3 MP – APS-C sensor		8 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video		no Video
ISO 100-3,200		ISO 100-400 (100 - 1,600)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
1.8" LCD – 118k dots		1.8" LCD – 134k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second		2.5 shutter flaps per second
500 shots per battery charge		750 shots per battery charge
150 x 107 x 75 mm, 850 g		147 x 85 x 64 mm, 624 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 10D and the Olympus Evolt E-300? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 10D and the Olympus E-300. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-300 is notably smaller (22 percent) than the Canon 10D. Moreover, the E-300 is markedly lighter (27 percent) than the 10D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 10D nor the E-300 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (10D) and the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-300).

Concerning battery life, the 10D gets 500 shots out of its BP-511 battery, while the E-300 can take 750 images on a single charge of its BLM-1 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 10D	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	850 g	500	n	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
2.		Olympus E-300	147 mm	85 mm	64 mm	624 g	750	n	Sep 2004	799	ebay.com
3.		Canon T5	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	480 g	500	n	Feb 2014	449	ebay.com
4.		Canon SL1	117 mm	91 mm	69 mm	407 g	380	n	Mar 2013	549	ebay.com
5.		Canon T4i	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	575 g	440	n	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
6.		Canon 7D	148 mm	111 mm	74 mm	860 g	800	Y	Sep 2009	1,699	ebay.com
7.		Canon 40D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	750	n	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
8.		Canon 30D	144 mm	106 mm	74 mm	785 g	750	n	Feb 2006	1,399	ebay.com
9.		Canon 20D	144 mm	106 mm	72 mm	770 g	700	n	Aug 2004	1,499	ebay.com
10.		Canon Rebel	142 mm	99 mm	72 mm	649 g	400	n	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
11.		Canon D60	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	855 g	620	n	Feb 2002	2,999	ebay.com
12.		Leica Digilux 3	146 mm	87 mm	77 mm	606 g	750	n	Sep 2006	1,499	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D100	144 mm	116 mm	81 mm	780 g	370	n	Feb 2002	1,999	ebay.com
14.		Olympus E-330	140 mm	87 mm	72 mm	637 g	750	n	Jan 2006	999	ebay.com
15.		Olympus E-400	130 mm	91 mm	53 mm	435 g	500	n	Sep 2006	699	ebay.com
16.		Olympus E-500	130 mm	95 mm	66 mm	479 g	750	n	Sep 2005	599	ebay.com
17.		Olympus E-1	141 mm	104 mm	81 mm	738 g	750	Y	Jun 2003	1,699	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-300 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 60 percent) than the 10D, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 10D features an APS-C sensor and the Olympus E-300 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-300 is 34 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 2.0. The sensor in the 10D has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-300 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the E-300 offers a higher resolution of 8 megapixels, compared with 6.3 MP of the 10D. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 5.30μm versus 7.38μm for the 10D). However, it should be noted that the E-300 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 7 months) than the 10D, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that partly offset its pixel-size disadvantage.

The resolution advantage of the Olympus E-300 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the E-300 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 16.3 x 12.2 inches or 41.5 x 31.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 13.1 x 9.8 inches or 33.2 x 24.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 10.9 x 8.2 inches or 27.6 x 20.7 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 10D are 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for good quality, 12.3 x 8.2 inches or 31.2 x 20.8 cm for very good quality, and 10.2 x 6.8 inches or 26 x 17.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 10D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus Evolt E-300 are ISO 100 to ISO 400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-1600.

In terms of underlying technology, the 10D is build around a CMOS sensor, while the E-300 uses a CCD imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 10D	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.1	10.9	571	57
2.		Olympus E-300	Four Thirds	8.0	3264	2448	none	20.4	10.1	-40	48
3.		Canon T5	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
4.		Canon SL1	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843	63
5.		Canon T4i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
6.		Canon 7D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.0	11.7	854	66
7.		Canon 40D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.3	703	64
8.		Canon 30D	APS-C	8.2	3504	2336	none	21.5	10.8	736	59
9.		Canon 20D	APS-C	8.2	3504	2336	none	21.9	11.0	721	62
10.		Canon Rebel	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.0	10.8	544	55
11.		Canon D60	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	20.3	9.8	301	47
12.		Leica Digilux 3	Four Thirds	7.4	3136	2352	none	21.0	10.6	127	53
13.		Nikon D100	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.4	9.9	394	48
14.		Olympus E-330	Four Thirds	7.4	3136	2352	none	20.8	10.4	73	52
15.		Olympus E-400	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.0	10.6	127	53
16.		Olympus E-500	Four Thirds	8.0	3264	2448	none	20.7	10.3	45	51
17.		Olympus E-1	Four Thirds	4.9	2560	1920	none	20.0	9.7	-145	44
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 10D and the E-300 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the 10D has a higher magnification than the one of the E-300 (0.55x vs 0.5x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 10D and Olympus E-300 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 10D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
2.		Olympus E-300	optical	n	1.8 / 134	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
3.		Canon T5	optical	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon SL1	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9/s	Y	n
5.		Canon T4i	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon 7D	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	Y	n
7.		Canon 40D	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.5/s	Y	n
8.		Canon 30D	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	n
9.		Canon 20D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	n
10.		Canon Rebel	optical	n	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
11.		Canon D60	optical	Y	1.8 / 114	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
12.		Leica Digilux 3	optical	n	2.5 / 207	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
13.		Nikon D100	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
14.		Olympus E-330	optical	n	2.5 / 215	tilting	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
15.		Olympus E-400	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
16.		Olympus E-500	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
17.		Olympus E-1	optical	Y	1.8 / 134	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	n
Notes: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the 10D, but is missing on the E-300 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The 10D writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the E-300 uses Compact Flash or xD Picture cards. The E-300 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 10D only has one slot.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 10D and Olympus Evolt E-300 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 10D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
2.		Olympus E-300	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon T5	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon SL1	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon T4i	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 7D	Y	mono / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 40D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon 30D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon 20D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
10.		Canon Rebel	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
11.		Canon D60	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
12.		Leica Digilux 3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D100	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
14.		Olympus E-330	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Olympus E-400	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Olympus E-500	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Olympus E-1	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 10D (unlike the E-300) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the 10D and the E-300 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 10D was replaced by the Canon 20D, while the E-300 was followed by the Olympus E-330. Further information on the features and operation of the 10D and E-300 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 10D Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-300 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon 10D better than the Olympus E-300 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 10D:

• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.55x vs 0.5x).
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2003).

Advantages of the Olympus Evolt E-300:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (8 vs 6.3MP), which boosts linear resolution by 11%.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (134k vs 118k dots).
• More compact: Is smaller (147x85mm vs 150x107mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 226g or 27 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (750 versus 500) out of a single battery charge.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.1).
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (60 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 7 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the match-up finishes in a tie (9 points each). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 10D and the Olympus E-300 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 10D or the E-300. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 10D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
2.		Olympus E-300	..	..	..	+	o	4.5/5	Sep 2004	799	ebay.com
3.		Canon T5	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449	ebay.com
4.		Canon SL1	4/5	+	..	78/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549	ebay.com
5.		Canon T4i	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
6.		Canon 7D	5/5	+ +	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2009	1,699	ebay.com
7.		Canon 40D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
8.		Canon 30D	..	+ +	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2006	1,399	ebay.com
9.		Canon 20D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2004	1,499	ebay.com
10.		Canon Rebel	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
11.		Canon D60	..	..	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2002	2,999	ebay.com
12.		Leica Digilux 3	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2006	1,499	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D100	..	..	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2002	1,999	ebay.com
14.		Olympus E-330	..	..	..	+	o	..	Jan 2006	999	ebay.com
15.		Olympus E-400	..	85/100	..	..	4/5	4/5	Sep 2006	699	ebay.com
16.		Olympus E-500	..	76/100	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2005	599	ebay.com
17.		Olympus E-1	..	..	..	+	o	..	Jun 2003	1,699	ebay.com
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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