Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Pentax K-01

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Pentax K-01

Leave Feedback

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
12.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 120.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon ELPH 300 HS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the ELPH 300 HS.

APS-C 369.7mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-01 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-01.

Buy From

Differences

Canon ELPH 300 HS advantages over Pentax K-01

Less expensive
$250 vs $900 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Thinner
19 mm vs 58 mm
Thinner
Less shutter lag
0.54 vs 0.80 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Pentax K-01 advantages over Canon ELPH 300 HS

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.81 vs 1.54 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

500 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Manual focus
Yes vs No
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More dots on screen
921k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
16.3 vs 12.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Longer exposure
30 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
5.9 fps vs 3.4 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon ELPH 300 HS

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-01

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 40mm Lens

Review Excerpt

Read our Canon ELPH 300 HS Express Review

Very good image quality and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control.
Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting.
Read our Pentax K-01 Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic DMC-FX48S

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Panasonic DMC-FX48S

$235
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
HDMI out

$259
1/2.33 inch

Longer stills battery life
Longer exposure

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Panasonic DMC-FX48S

Pentax K-01

Panasonic DMC-FX48S

$359
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$259
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive
Thinner

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Panasonic DMC-FX48S

Compared to Canon SD980 IS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon SD980 IS

$235
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Shoots 24p video

$249
1/2.3 inch

Faster shutter

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Canon SD980 IS

Pentax K-01

Canon SD980 IS

$359
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$249
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Canon SD980 IS

Compared to Samsung NX10

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Samsung NX10

$235
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$700
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Samsung NX10

Pentax K-01

Samsung NX10

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$700
APS-C

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX10

Compared to Canon 320 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon 320 HS

$235
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Longer stills battery life

$231
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
More dots on screen

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Canon 320 HS

Pentax K-01

Canon 320 HS

$359
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$231
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Canon 320 HS

Compared to Samsung NX20

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Samsung NX20

$235
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$400
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon ELPH 300 HS vs Samsung NX20

Pentax K-01

Samsung NX20

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$400
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX20

Compare Other Cameras?