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Canon 350D vs Olympus E-330

The Canon EOS 350D (called Canon XT in some regions) and the Olympus Evolt E-330 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2005 and January 2006. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (350D) and a Four Thirds (E-330) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 8 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 7.4 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Canon 350D
versus
Olympus E-330
Canon 350D   Olympus E-330
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Four Thirds lenses
8 MP – APS-C sensor 7.4 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 100-400 (100 - 1,600)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
1.8" LCD – 115k dots 2.5" LCD – 215k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
3 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
400 shots per battery charge750 shots per battery charge
127 x 94 x 64 mm, 540 g 140 x 87 x 72 mm, 637 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 350D and the Olympus Evolt E-330? 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.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 350D and the Olympus E-330. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The 350D can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the E-330 is only available in black.

Size Canon 350D vs Olympus E-330
Compare 350D versus E-330 top
Comparison 350D or E-330 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-330 is somewhat larger (2 percent) than the Canon 350D. Moreover, the E-330 is markedly heavier (18 percent) than the 350D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 350D nor the E-330 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 (350D) and the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-330).

Concerning battery life, the 350D gets 400 shots out of its Canon NB-2LH battery, while the E-330 can take 750 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLM-1 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 350D 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 n Feb 2005 899ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-330 140 mm 87 mm 72 mm 637 g 750 n Jan 2006 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 77D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 540 g 600 n Feb 2017 899ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 750D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 760D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 649ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 650D 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 849ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 500D 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 520 g 400 n Mar 2009 799ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 450D 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 524 g 500 n Jan 2008 799ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 30D 144 mm 106 mm 74 mm 785 g 750 n Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 400D 127 mm 84 mm 65 mm 556 g 370 n Aug 2006 799ebay.com
11.
 
Canon XT 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 n Feb 2005 899ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 20D 144 mm 106 mm 72 mm 770 g 700 n Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
13.
 
Canon 300D 142 mm 99 mm 72 mm 649 g 400 n Aug 2003 899ebay.com
14.
 
Leica Digilux 3 146 mm 87 mm 77 mm 606 g 750 n Sep 2006 1,499ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-500 130 mm 95 mm 66 mm 479 g 750 n Sep 2005 599ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-300 147 mm 85 mm 64 mm 624 g 750 n Sep 2004 799ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic L1 146 mm 87 mm 64 mm 606 g 750 n Feb 2006 999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 350D was somewhat cheaper (by 10 percent) than the E-330 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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 associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 350D features an APS-C sensor and the Olympus E-330 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-330 is 32 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 350D has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-330 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Canon 350D and Olympus E-330 sensor measures

With 8MP, the 350D offers a slightly higher resolution than the E-330 (7.4MP), but the 350D nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.41μm versus 5.51μm for the E-330) due to its larger sensor. However, the E-330 is a somewhat more recent model (by 11 months) than the 350D, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 350D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 350D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 13.8 x 9.2 inches or 35.1 x 23.4 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 11.5 x 7.7 inches or 29.3 x 19.5 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-330 are 15.7 x 11.8 inches or 39.8 x 29.9 cm for good quality, 12.5 x 9.4 inches or 31.9 x 23.9 cm for very good quality, and 10.5 x 7.8 inches or 26.6 x 19.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 350D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus Evolt E-330 are ISO 100 to ISO 400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-1600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

350D versus E-330 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 350D APS-C 8.0 3456 2304none21.810.863760
2.
 
Olympus E-330 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.47352
3.
 
Canon 77D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.397178
4.
 
Canon 750D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
5.
 
Canon 760D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
6.
 
Canon 650D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
7.
 
Canon 500D APS-C 15.1 4752 31681080/20p21.711.566363
8.
 
Canon 450D APS-C 12.2 4272 2848none21.910.869261
9.
 
Canon 30D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.510.873659
10.
 
Canon 400D APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.066462
11.
 
Canon XT APS-C 8.0 3456 2304none21.810.863760
12.
 
Canon 20D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.911.072162
13.
 
Canon 300D APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.010.854455
14.
 
Leica Digilux 3 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none21.010.612753
15.
 
Olympus E-500 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.710.34551
16.
 
Olympus E-300 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.410.1-4048
17.
 
Panasonic L1 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.48052
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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The E-330 offers Live View, so that it can project the live image that the sensor receives onto the rear screen for framing. The 350D lacks this capability. Both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 350D and the E-330 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 350D has a higher magnification than the one of the E-330 (0.49x vs 0.47x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 350D and Olympus E-330 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image 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 350Doptical n1.8 / 115 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Olympus E-330optical n2.5 / 215 tilting n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 77Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon 750Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon 760Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 650Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon 500Doptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.4/s Y n
8.
 
Canon 450Doptical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
9.
 
Canon 30Doptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon 400Doptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon XToptical n1.8 / 115 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
12.
 
Canon 20Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Canon 300Doptical n1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
14.
 
Leica Digilux 3optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
15.
 
Olympus E-500optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
16.
 
Olympus E-300optical n1.8 / 134 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
17.
 
Panasonic L1optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

The 350D writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the E-330 uses Compact Flash or xD Picture cards. The E-330 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 350D only has one slot.

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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 350D and Olympus Evolt E-330 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 350DY- / ----2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-330Y- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Canon 77DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
4.
 
Canon 750DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon 760DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon 650DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
7.
 
Canon 500DYmono / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon 450DY- / ---mini2.0---
9.
 
Canon 30DY- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Canon 400DY- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Canon XTY- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Canon 20DY- / ----1.1---
13.
 
Canon 300DY- / ----1.1---
14.
 
Leica Digilux 3Ystereo / mono---2.0---
15.
 
Olympus E-500Y- / ----2.0---
16.
 
Olympus E-300Y- / ----2.0---
17.
 
Panasonic L1Y- / ----2.0---
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Both the 350D and the E-330 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 350D was replaced by the Canon 400D, while the E-330 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the 350D and E-330 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 350D Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-330 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 350D or the Olympus E-330 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Advantages of the Canon EOS 350D:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (8 vs 7.4MP) with a 6% higher linear resolution.
  • 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 (0.49x vs 0.47x).
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 97g or 15 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2005).

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Reasons to prefer the Olympus Evolt E-330:

  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.5" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (215k vs 115k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (750 versus 400) out of a single battery charge.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (11 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 350D emerges as the winner of the contest (8 : 6 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

350D 08:06 E-330

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 350D and the Olympus E-330 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 technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 350D or the E-330. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 350D..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 899ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-330......+o.. Jan 2006 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 77D4.5/5..4/582/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 899ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 750D5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 760D5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 649ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 650D4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 849ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 500D..+ +..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 799ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 450D..+ +..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 799ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 30D..+ +..+ +o.. Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 400D..+ +..+ +o4/5 Aug 2006 799ebay.com
11.
 
Canon XT..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 899ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 20D......+ +.... Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
13.
 
Canon 300D......+ +.... Aug 2003 899ebay.com
14.
 
Leica Digilux 3............ Sep 2006 1,499ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-500..76/100..+ +.... Sep 2005 599ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-300......+o4.5/5 Sep 2004 799ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic L1..85/100..+..3.5/5 Feb 2006 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. 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? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Canon 350D vs Olympus E-330

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 350D Olympus E-330
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date February 2005 January 2006
    Launch Price USD 899 USD 999
    Sensor Specs Canon 350D Olympus E-330
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.2 x 14.8 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 328.56 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.7 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 8 Megapixels 7.4 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3456 x 2304 pixels 3136 x 2352 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 6.41 μm 5.51 μm
    Pixel Density 2.42 MP/cm2 3.28 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 400 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 100 - 1,600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC II TruePic
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 60 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.8 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.8 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 637 ..
    Screen Specs Canon 350D Olympus E-330
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.49x 0.47x
    LCD Framing Live View
    Rear LCD Size 1.8inch 2.5inch
    LCD Resolution 115k dots 215k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
    Shooting Specs Canon 350D Olympus E-330
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF cards CF or XD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    Connectivity Specs Canon 350D Olympus E-330
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon 350D Olympus E-330
    Battery Type Canon NB-2LH Olympus BLM-1
    Battery Life (CIPA)400 shots per charge750 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 127 x 94 x 64 mm
    (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in)
    140 x 87 x 72 mm
    (5.5 x 3.4 x 2.8 in)
    Camera Weight 540 g (19.0 oz) 637 g (22.5 oz)
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