A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Olympus E-330 vs E-300

The Olympus Evolt E-330 and the Olympus Evolt E-300 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in January 2006 and September 2004. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The E-330 has a resolution of 7.4 megapixels, whereas the E-300 provides 8 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-330
versus
Olympus E-300
Olympus E-330   Olympus E-300
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Four Thirds lenses Four Thirds lenses
7.4 MP – Four Thirds sensor 8 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-400 (100 - 1,600) ISO 100-400 (100 - 1,600)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
2.5" LCD – 215k dots 1.8" LCD – 134k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second 2.5 shutter flaps per second
750 shots per battery charge750 shots per battery charge
140 x 87 x 72 mm, 637 g 147 x 85 x 64 mm, 624 g
logo
Check E-330 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check E-300 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus Evolt E-330 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.

ad

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-330 and the Olympus E-300 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-300
Compare E-330 versus E-300 top
Comparison E-330 or E-300 rear

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 somewhat larger (3 percent) than the Olympus E-330. However, the E-300 is slightly lighter (2 percent) than the E-330. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-330 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. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. 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.

scroll hint
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.
 
Olympus E-330 140 mm 87 mm 72 mm 637 g 750 n Jan 2006 999ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-300 147 mm 85 mm 64 mm 624 g 750 n Sep 2004 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon XT 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 n Feb 2005 899ebay.com
4.
 
Leica Digilux 3 146 mm 87 mm 77 mm 606 g 750 n Sep 2006 1,499ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D80 132 mm 103 mm 77 mm 668 g 600 n Aug 2006 999ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-510 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 538 g 750 n Mar 2007 799ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-400 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Sep 2006 699ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-500 130 mm 95 mm 66 mm 479 g 750 n Sep 2005 599ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-1 141 mm 104 mm 81 mm 738 g 750 Y Jun 2003 1,699ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 599ebay.com
12.
 
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.
padding

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. 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 E-300 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 20 percent) than the E-330, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Olympus E-330 and Olympus E-300 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the E-300 offers a slightly higher resolution of 8 megapixels, compared with 7.4 MP of the E-330. This megapixels advantage translates into a 4 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the E-300 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 5.30μm versus 5.51μm for the E-330). Moreover, it should be noted, that the E-330 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 3 months) than the E-300, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of individual pixels.

The Olympus Evolt E-330 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 400, which can be extended to ISO 100-1600. The Olympus Evolt E-300 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

In terms of underlying technology, the E-330 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.

E-330 versus E-300 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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 table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-330 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.47352
2.
 
Olympus E-300 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.410.1-4048
3.
 
Canon XT APS-C 8.0 3456 2304none21.810.863760
4.
 
Leica Digilux 3 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none21.010.612753
5.
 
Nikon D80 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.111.252461
6.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
7.
 
Olympus E-510 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.210.044252
8.
 
Olympus E-400 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.010.612753
9.
 
Olympus E-500 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.710.34551
10.
 
Olympus E-1 Four Thirds 4.9 2560 1920none20.09.7-14544
11.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
12.
 
Panasonic L1 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.48052
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
padding
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 E-300 lacks this capability. Both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
ad

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The E-330 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 E-300 has a higher magnification than the one of the E-330 (0.5x vs 0.47x), 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 Olympus E-330 and Olympus E-300 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

scroll hint
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.
 
Olympus E-330optical n2.5 / 215 tilting n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Olympus E-300optical n1.8 / 134 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
3.
 
Canon XToptical n1.8 / 115 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Leica Digilux 3optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
5.
 
Nikon D80optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
7.
 
Olympus E-510optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-400optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Olympus E-500optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
10.
 
Olympus E-1optical Y1.8 / 134 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
11.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
12.
 
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

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the E-330 and the E-300 write their files to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails.

ad

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 Olympus Evolt E-330 and Olympus Evolt E-300 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
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.
 
Olympus E-330Y- / ----2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-300Y- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Canon XTY- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Leica Digilux 3Ystereo / mono---2.0---
5.
 
Nikon D80Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-510Y- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-400Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-500Y- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-1Y- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic L1Y- / ----2.0---
padding

Both the E-330 and the E-300 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-300 was replaced by the Olympus E-330, while the E-330 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-330 and E-300 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-330 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-300 Manual.

ad

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Olympus E-330 and the Olympus E-300? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Arguments in favor of 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 134k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 3 months after the E-300).


Advantages of the Olympus Evolt E-300:

  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.5x vs 0.47x).
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (20 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2004).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-330 emerges as the winner of the contest (5 : 3 points). 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 wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-330 05:03 E-300

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-330 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 incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the E-330 or the E-300 perform in practice. 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 where reviews by experts come in. 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.

scroll hint
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.
 
Olympus E-330......+o.. Jan 2006 999ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-300......+o4.5/5 Sep 2004 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon XT..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 899ebay.com
4.
 
Leica Digilux 3............ Sep 2006 1,499ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D80..+..+ +o4.5/5 Aug 2006 999ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-510..89/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Mar 2007 799ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-400..85/100....4/54/5 Sep 2006 699ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-500..76/100..+ +.... Sep 2005 599ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-1......+o.. Jun 2003 1,699ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic L1..85/100..+..3.5/5 Feb 2006 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

logo
Check E-330 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check E-300 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu 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.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-300

    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 Olympus E-330 Olympus E-300
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date January 2006 September 2004
    Launch Price USD 999 USD 799
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-330 Olympus E-300
    Sensor Technology CMOS CCD
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 7.4 Megapixels 8 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3136 x 2352 pixels 3264 x 2448 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.51 μm 5.30 μm
    Pixel Density 3.28 MP/cm2 3.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 400 ISO 100 - 400 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic TruePic
    Screen Specs Olympus E-330 Olympus E-300
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.47x 0.5x
    LCD Framing Live View
    Rear LCD Size 2.5inch 1.8inch
    LCD Resolution 215k dots 134k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-330 Olympus E-300
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 2.5 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF or XD cards CF or XD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Dual card slots
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-330 Olympus E-300
    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 Olympus E-330 Olympus E-300
    Battery Type Olympus BLM-1 Olympus BLM-1
    Battery Life (CIPA)750 shots per charge750 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 140 x 87 x 72 mm
    (5.5 x 3.4 x 2.8 in)
    147 x 85 x 64 mm
    (5.8 x 3.3 x 2.5 in)
    Camera Weight 637 g (22.5 oz) 624 g (22.0 oz)
    logo
    Check E-330 offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check E-300 offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-300