Olympus EVOLT E-300By: Shawn Barnett and Dave Etchells8.0 megapixels, ZUIKO DIGITAL lens mount, digital SLR design, and loads of features! <<Intro and Highlights :(Previous) | (Next): User Report>> Page 2:Comparison with Nikon D70, Canon EOS Digital Rebel, and EOS 20DReview First Posted: 11/08/2004, Updated: 03/12/2005 |
Comparison with Nikon D70, Canon EOS Digital Rebel, and EOS 20D
| Olympus E-300 vs Nikon D70 and Canon Digital Rebel, EOS-10D | |||||
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E-300 | D70 | |
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| Imaging System |
Imaging Element/Effective Pixels | CCD 8.15 Megapixels 8.0 effective |
CCD, 6.24 Megapixels 6.1 effective |
CMOS 6.5 Megapixels 6.3 effective |
CMOS 8.8 Megapixels 8.25 effective |
| Effective Sensor Size | 13.0 x 17.3mm | 15.6 x 23.7mm | 15.1 x 22.7mm | 15.0 x 22.5mm | |
| Picture angle reduction, vs 35mm frame | Approx 2.0x | Approx 1.5x | Approx. 1.6x | ||
| Image Processor | Not stated | Not stated | |
DIGIC II | |
| Viewfinder | Type | Eye-level Porro Mirror system | Eye-level pentamirror | Eye-level pentamirror | Eye-level pentaprism |
| Coverage | 94% | 95% horizontally and vertically | |||
| Magnification (-1 diopter with 50mm lens at infinity) | 1.0x | 0.75x | 0.8x | 0.9x | |
| Eyepoint | 20mm | 18mm | 21mm | 20mm | |
| Dioptric Adjustment Range | -3.0 to +1.0 diopter | -1.6 to +0.5 diopter | -3.0 to +1.0 diopter | ||
| Focusing Screen | Fixed (Matte with AF/Metering marks) |
B-type BriteView clear matte screen Mark V, with on-demand grid lines | Fixed, all-matte screen | Fixed, "Precision Matte" screen | |
| Viewfinder Info Display |
AF information (AF frame, focus confirmation), aperture value, shutter speed, exposure compensation amount, flash indicator, AE lock, white balance, metering mode, battery check, exposure mode, number of "storable sequential pictures" (not seen on prototype) | AF information (AF points, focus confirmation, AF area mode, AE/AF lock indicator), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture value, manual exposure, AE/AF lock indicator, exposure level, flash exposure, exposure compensation indicator), flash-ready indicator, shots remaining, battery level | AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture value, manual exposure, AE lock, exposure level), flash information (flash ready, red-eye reduction lamp on, high-speed sync, FE lock), shots remaining, CF card information | AF (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure (shutter speed, aperture value, manual exposure, AE lock, exposure compensation amount, AEB level, AEB progress, partial metering area), flash (flash ready, red-eye reduction lamp on, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation amount, red-eye reduction lamp indicator), warnings (exposure warning, improper FE lock warning, CF card full warning, CF card error warning, no CF card warning, busy), maximum burst for continuous shooting, shots remaining | |
| Depth of Field Preview | Enabled with depth-of-field preview button | ||||
| Recording System |
Recording Media/Quantity/Slot Type | CF card/1 slot/Type I or II | |||
| Compatible File Formats | FAT 16/32 | ||||
| Recording Formats | RAW (ORF), JPEG, TIFF |
RAW (NEF), JPEG | RAW (CRW), JPEG | ||
| Maximum Resolution | 3,264 x 2,448 | 3,008 x 2,000 | 3,072 x 2,048 | 3,504 x 2,336 | |
| Reduced Resolutions (JPEG only) | 3,200 x 2,400, 2,560 x 1,920, 1,600 x 1,200 1,280 x 960 1,024 x 768 640 x 480 |
2,240 x 1,488, 1,504 x 1,000 |
2,048 x 1,360, 1,356 x 1,024 |
2,544 x 1,696, 1,752 x 1,168 |
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| RAW + JPEG Recording | Yes/Selectable JPEG resolution/compression | Yes/Basic JPEG only |
Yes/Middle Fine JPEG only, embedded in RAW |
Yes/Selectable JPEG resolution/compression |
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| Color
Space & White Balance |
User-Selectable Color Space | Yes sRGB + Adobe RGB |
Yes sRGB (two variants) + Adobe RGB |
sRGB + Adobe RGB |
Yes sRGB (two variants) + Adobe RGB |
| Processing Parameters (Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Color Tone)/# of Increments |
5 options each for sharpness, saturation, and contrast. Normal/Low/High-key Gradation adjustment, | 6 options each for sharpness and contrast, 3 options for saturation. 7-step hue adjustment. Digital vari-programs preset various processing parameters as well, and color space III boosts saturation somewhat. | (Same as 10D, but new is default sets: one mimics 10D settings and one boosts contrast, saturation, and sharpening for snappier prints. This is the factory default setting) |
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| Preset WB settings | 14 (Auto, Custom, plus 12 Kelvin Temperature settings correlated with common light sources, such as incandescent, various types of fluorescent, etc.) | 6 (Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash) | 9 ( Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Manual Color Temperature Setting and Custom) | ||
| Manual Color Temperature Setting Range | 2,000 ~ 10,000 (16 settings, varying increments) |
(No Kelvin option, but very broad Preset WB range) | None | 2,800 ~ 10,000K in 100K increments |
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| WB Adjustment Range | ±7 steps in 1-step increments, unknown step size | ±3 steps
in 1-step increments 10 mireds per step |
±3 steps
in 1-step increments 5 mireds per step |
±2 steps
in 1-step increments (personal white balance, custom parameter submenu); ±9 steps Color Temp compensation (2-axis adjustment) |
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| Autofocus System |
Type | TTL phase detection | TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM900 autofocus module | TTL-CT-SIR with
a CMOS sensor (TTL secondary image registration, phase detection) |
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| # of Focusing Points (Focusing Point Type) / Superimposed Display | 3 points / Yes | 5 points / Yes | 7 points (1 cross-type, 2 horizontal-type, 4 vertical-type) / Yes | 9 points (1 cross-type, 8 single-axis) | |
| AF Working Range | EV 0 ~ 19 | EV -1 ~ 19 | EV 0.5 ~ 18 | EV -0.5 ~ 18 | |
| AF-assist Beam | With built-in flash unit, and on dedicated Olympus external flash units. Note: Only available when flash is enabled. | Bright incandescent lamp, (Range approx. 3.0 m, 9.8 ft, depending on lens.) Not dependent on flash setting. | Yes, stroboscopic flash (Range: Approx. 4.0m / 13.1ft. at center, approx. 3.5m/11.5ft. off-center) Note: Only available when flash is enabled. | ||
| One-shot AF | Locked by first position of Shutter Button / OK Button (Customizable) | Available in all modes | Enabled in Portrait, Landscape, Close-up (Macro), Night Portrait, and A-DEP modes. | Enabled
in Portrait, Landscape, Close-up (Macro), Night Portrait, and A-DEP modes. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
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| AI Servo (Tracking) AF | Available in Continuous AF Mode | Available in all modes | Enabled in Sports mode only. | Enabled in Sports
mode. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
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| AI Focus AF | Predictive AF for moving subjects, but doesn't appear to track across AF areas. | Slightly different, but closest-subject focus priority available in all modes | Enabled in Full Auto, Flash Off, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. | Enabled in Full
Auto and Flash Off modes. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. |
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| Exposure Control |
Shooting Modes | 9 - Program,
aperture-priority AE, shutter-priority AE, Manual, Portrait, Landcape, Close
up, Sports, Night Landscape, plus: 14 Scene modes (Landscape, Landscape+Portrait, Night Scene, Night+Portrait, Fireworks, Sunset, Portrait, High Key, Macro, Documents, Museum, Sport, Beach & Snow, and Candle) |
11 - Program, shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, Manual, Auto, Portrait, Landcape, Close up, Sports, Night Landscape, Night Portrait. | 12 - Program AE (Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash Off, Program), shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, depth-of-field AE, manual exposure, ETTL autoflash | |
| Metering Zones | (not stated) | 1,005 | 35 | ||
| Metering Modes | Digital ESP (evaluative), center-weighted, spot | 1) 3D color matrix
metering with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor
(2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6, 8, 10, or 13 mm dia. circle in center of frame (3) Spot: Meters 2.3 mm dia. circle (about 1% of frame) centered on active focus area |
Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center weighted average (set automatically in manual mode), 9% partial | Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center weighted, 9% partial | |
| Metering System Working Range | Digital ESP/Center
Weighted Average; EV 1 to 20 Spot; EV 3 to 17 (50mm F2, ISO 100) |
1) EV 0 to 20 (3D
color matrix or center-weighted metering) 2) EV 2 to 20 (spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F) |
EV 1 ~ 20 (ISO 100 equivalent, 50mm f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F) |
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| ISO Range / Extended | 100 ~ 400 Expandable to 800/1600 | 200 ~ 1600 | 100 ~ 1600 | 100 ~ 1600 / 3200 | |
| Exposure Compensation | +/- 5EV in 1, 1/2 or 1/3EV increments | +/- 5EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments (can be combined with AEB) | +/- 2EV in 1/3EV increments (can be combined with AEB) | +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments (can be combined with AEB) | |
| Automatic Exposure Bracketing | 3 Frames in +/- 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV step (selectable | 2 or 3 shots, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV steps | +/- 2EV in 1/3EV increments | +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments | |
| Shutter
Speeds, Frame Rate, Shutter Lag |
Shutter Type | Mechanical Focal Plane, electronically controlled | Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter | Mechanical, all speeds electronically controlled | |
| Shutter Speed Range | 30 to 1/4000 s, 1/3, 1/2, 1EV step selectable, bulb | 30 to 1/8000 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, bulb | 1/4000 ~ 30 sec. (1/3EV increments) and bulb | 1/8000 ~ 30 sec. (1/2 or 1/3EV increments) and bulb | |
| Maximum Frames Per Second/Buffer depth | 2.58 fps / 4 frames (JPEG large/fine) | 2.92 fps / unlimited (JPEG large/normal, with fast card) | 2.5 fps / 4 frames | 4.8 fps / 31 frames JPEG or 6 frames RAW/RAW+JPEG | |
| Shutter lag, full AF | 0.36-0.37 | 0.34-0.49 | 0.25-0.28 | 0.15-0.16 | |
| Shutter lag, prefocus | 0.100 | 0.124 | 0.142 | 0.077 | |
| Startup time | 2.1 sec | ~ Zero | 3.09 sec | 0.25 sec | |
| Flash | Built-in Flash / Guide Number at ISO 100. | Yes (13 meters / 43 feet) | Yes (11 meters / 36 feet) | Yes (13 meters / 43 feet) | |
| Max flash x-sync speed. | 1/180 | 1/500 (!) | 1/200 | 1/250 | |
| Flash Exposure Compensation | +/- 2 EV in each 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps | -3 to +1 EV, 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps | No | +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments | |
| Slow-sync flash | 1st or 2nd curtain | 1st or 2nd curtain | 1st curtain only | 1st or 2nd curtain | |
| TTL flash | TTL Auto FP/TTL Auto for Olympus Dedicated Flash (internal and/or external) | i-TTL autoflash with internal or external SB-600 or SB-800 speedlights | E-TTL autoflash with internal or external EX-series speedlites | E-TTL II autoflash with internal or external EX-series speedlites | |
| PC Sync Terminal | Hot shoe only | Hot shoe only | Hot shoe only | Yes, plus hot shoe as well | |
| Playback System |
LCD Size / Pixel Count | 1.8 in LCD / 134,000 pixels | 1.8 in LCD / 130,000 pixels | 1.8 in. LCD / 118,000 pixels | |
| Enlarged Playback / Scroll | 2, 3, 4, 10x | 1.1 ~ 4.7x in 10 steps / Yes | 1.5~10x in 15 steps / Yes | ||
| LCD Monitor Brightness Adjustment Range | 7 steps | 5 steps | |||
| Automatic Rotation for Vertical Shots | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| Other Features | USB Connection | Yes, PTP-compliant (v2.0 standard, v1.1 max speed) | Yes, PTP-compliant (v2.0 standard, v1.1 max speed) | Yes, PTP-compliant, USB v 1.1 | Yes, PTP-compliant, USB v 2.0 |
| Direct Printing (PictBridge-compliant printers) | (unknown) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| In-camera editing of images from RAW files. | Yes (sharpness, contrast, saturation) | No | No | No | |
| Menu Languages | 2 (English, Japanese) - More coming in production models? | 10 (Japanese, German, English, Spanish, French, Korean, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Dutch, Swedish) | 12 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese.) | ||
| Camera Default Reset | Yes | ||||
| Custom Functions (Quantity / Settings) | No | Yes (9 or 25) | No | Yes (18) | |
| Remote Control | Optional IR | Optional, Compatible with Remote Switch RS-60E3, Remote Controller RC-5 / RC-1 | Optional, N3-type remote control | ||
| LCD Panel Illumination | n/a | Yes (dedicated button) | |||
| Ultrasonic CCD dust-removal function | Yes | No | |||
| Text Comments | No | Yes, stored in EXIF headers | No | ||
| Body Structure | Body Cover/Chassis | Metal Alloy | Largely Plastic | Largely Plastic | Magnesium Alloy/Stainless Steel |
| Power System | Battery Compatibility | BLM-1 | EN-EL3, CR2 pack (3 cells) |
Main: BP-511
/ BP-512 Backup: CR2016 |
Main: BP-511
/ BP-512 Backup: CR2025 |
| Rated Shooting Capacity at 20C/68F | CIPA: 400 | 100%AE: 2000 50% Flash: 400 |
100% AE: 600 50% Flash: 400 |
100% AE: 650 50% Flash: 500 |
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| Dimensions & Weight | Dimensions (WxHxD,mm) | 146 x 85 x 64 | 140 x 111 x 78 | 142 x 99 x 72.9 | 149.7 x 107.5 x 75 |
| Weight | 580g/20.5 oz (body only) |
595g/21 oz (body only) | 560g/19.7 oz. (body only) 653g/23.0 oz (with battery & card) | 685g/24.2 oz. (body only) | |
| Lens Compatibility | Lens Mount / Compatibility | 4/3 System Mount |
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EF / All EOS lenses, plus Digital Rebel specific EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens | EF / All EOS lenses, EF-S digital-specific lenses |
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