Olympus E-300

(Olympus Evolt E-300 in the USA)

Review Date: April 13th 2005

Page 1
Introduction / Price
Page 2
Features
Page 3
Specifications
Page 4
Design
Page 5
Ease of Use
Page 6
Image Quality
Page 7
Sample Images
Page 8
Conclusion / Links

Specifications

Type

Type

Interchangeable Lens Digital SLR Camera

Media

Compact Flash Card (Type I, II), Micro Drive

Imaging Size

17.3 x 13.0 mm

Lens Mount

Four Thirds Mount

Compatible Lens

Zuiko Digital, Four Thirds System Lens

Number of Effective Pixels

8 million pixels

Image Sensor

Type

Full Frame Transfer CCD (4/3 FFT-CCD)

Effective Pixel Number

Approx. 8.15 million pixels

Aspect

4:3

Filter Array

Primary color filter (RGB)

Dust Proof of Image Sensor

Yes - Supersonic Wave Filter

Recording System

Recording Format

DCF, DPOF compatible/Exif compatible, PRINT Image Matching II compatible

Recording Mode

RAW ( 12bit ), TIFF ( RGB 8-bit ), JPEG

RAW + JPEG Recording

Yes: RAW + SHQ/HQ/SQ modes

File Size

RAW: Approx. 13.5MB (3264x2448)
TIFF: Approx. 23.3MB (3264x2448)
JPEG SHQ: Approx. 6.1MB (3264x2448) 1/2.7
HQ: Approx. 4.3MB (3264x2448) 1/4
HQ: Approx. 1.9MB (3264x2448) 1/8
SQ: Approx. 5.9MB (3200x2400) 1/2.7
SQ: Approx. 4.1MB (3200x2400) 1/4
SQ: Approx. 1.9MB (3200x2400) 1/8
SQ: Approx. 4.0MB (2560x1920) 1/2.7
SQ: Approx. 2.4MB (2560x1920) 1/4
SQ: Approx. 1.2MB (2560x1920) 1/8
SQ: Approx. 1.4MB (1600x1200) 1/2.7
SQ: Approx. 0.9MB (1600x1200) 1/4
SQ: Approx. 0.5MB (1600x1200) 1/8
SQ: Approx. 0.9MB (1280x960) 1/2.7
SQ: Approx. 0.6MB (1280x960) 1/4
SQ: Approx. 0.3MB (1280x960) 1/8
SQ: Approx. 0.6MB (1024x768) 1/2.7
SQ: Approx. 0.4MB (1024x768) 1/4
SQ: Approx. 0.2MB (1024x768) 1/8
SQ: Approx. 0.2MB (640x480) 1/2.7
SQ: Approx. 0.2MB (640x480) 1/4
SQ: Approx. 0.1MB (640x480) 1/8

Viewfinder

Type

Optical eye level single lens reflex viewfinder

View field coverage

94% Centered Horz./Vert.

Magnification

Approx. x 1.00 with 50mm lens set to infinity on -1diopter

Eye Point

20mm on -1 diopter

Diopter Adjustment

Built-in type -3.0 to +1.0 diopter

Focusing Screen

Fixed (Mat Screen with AF/Metering Marks)

Mirror

Side Swing Quick Return Mirror

Viewfinder information

AF frame (Super Impose), AE lock, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure mode, White balance, Flash, AF confirmation mark, Metering mode, Number of storable sequential pictures, Exposure compensation value indication, Record Mode, Battery Level Indicator

Eye Piece Shutter

Eye Piece Cover included

Depth of Field Preview

Preview Button

Playback Monitor

Type

HyperCrystal TFT Color LCD

Size

1.8 inch/4.6 cm

Pixel Number

134,000 pixels

View field coverage

Approx. 100%

Brightness Control

+/- 7 steps

Auto Focus

Type

TTL Phase Difference Detection System

Focus Mode

Single AF/Continuous AF/Single AF + MF/Manual Focus

Focus Area

3 points

Detection Range

EV 0 to 19 (ISO 100)

Focus Area Selection

Automatic Selection / Manual User Selection

AF Assist Lamp

Built-in optional Olympus Dedicated Flashes

AF Lock

Locked by first position of Shutter Button / OK Button (Customizable)

Focus Tracking

Available in Continuous AF Mode

Manual Focus

Available by rotation of a Lens Focus ring
Available for setting Manual focus operation in AF Mode

Exposure Control

Light Metering Mode

Exposure measurement at open aperture
Digital ESP/Center Weighted Average/Spot (2%)

Detection Range

Digital ESP/Center Weighted Average; EV 2 to 20 Spot; EV 3 to 17 (50mm F2, ISO 100)

Exposure Mode

Program with Program Shift/Shutter Priority/Aperture Priority/Manual Scene Program/Scene Select

Scene Program

Portrait, Macro, Landscape, Night Scene, Sports

Scene Select

Portrait, Macro, Landscape, Night Scene, Sports, Landscape & Self Portrait, Night Scene & Self Portrait, Fire Work, Sunset, High Key, Document, Manor Shot, Beach & Snow, Candle

Sensitivity

AUTO/100/200/400 (AUTO: 100-400) Expandable to 800/1600

Exposure Compensation

Up to +/- 5 EV in each 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV step

AE Lock

Locked by first position of Shutter Button / AEL Button (Customizable)

Exposure Bracketing

3 Frames in +/- 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV step (selectable)

White Balance System

Auto WB System

Advanced Detection System with CCD Imager

Preset WB

12 Types (3000K - 1000K)

WB Compensation

up to +/- 7 step in each Auto/Preset setting

Custom WB Compensation

up to +/- 7 step
2000-6000K in 100K steps
6000-8000K in 200K steps
8000-10000K in 500K steps

On touch Mode

4 on touch Settings

WB Bracketing

3 Frames with +/- 5/10/15 mired steps

Color Mode

Color Space

sRGB/AdobeRGB

Saturation

Saturation 5 levels

Image Quality

Sharpness

8 levels

Contrast

5 levels

Shutter

Type

Electronic Controlled Focal Plane Shutter

Shutter Speed

P,Ps,A: 1-1/4000
S,M: 30-1/4000
Bulb (up to 8 minutes by limiter)
Scene Program and Scene Select: 4-1/4000 (depends on selected mode)
1/3, 1/2, 1EV step selectable

Self Timer

12 or 2 seconds

Remote Control

Yes (Optional: Remote Control RM-1)
0 or 2 sec. (Selectable)

Drive System

Drive Mode

Single/Sequential Shooting/IR Remote/Self Timer/BKT

Sequential Shooting Speed

Approx. 2.5 fps

Max. Frame Number on Sequential Shooting

RAW/TIFF 3 frames
JPEG (depend on compression ratio and pixel number)

Control Panel

Control Panel Information

Flash mode, Flash compensation value indication, Metering mode, Focus mode, Record mode, Aperture value, Shutter speed, Battery check, Number of storable still pictures, Image quality adjustment, ISO, Color space, Mono tone, Hi/Lo Key, White balance, Remote control, Self-timer, Exposure level indicator, Exposure compensation indicator, AF frame, Number of storable sequential pictures, Exposure compensation value indication, Auto bracket, Noise reduction, Single-frame shooting/Sequential shooting, Color saturation compensation value indication, Sharpness compensation indication value, AE bracket, WB bracket

Flash Control

Type

TTL Auto FP/TTL Auto for Olympus Dedicated Flash

Built-in Flash

Yes. Flash Guide Number: 13

Flash Modes

Auto/Red-eye Reduction/Slow synchro/ Fill-in for Exclusive Flash

X-Sync Speed

X= 1/180 sec. or less FP 1/30 sec. - 1/4000 sec.

Intensity Control

Up to +/- 2 EV in each 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV step for Exclusive Flash

Syncro Timing

1st Curtain Synchro/2nd Curtain Slow Synchro (Selectable)

Multi Flash Control

Yes (control built in and ext FL flash independently)

Playback

Display Mode

Single/Zoom (2/3/4/10x)/Index (4/9/16 frames)/Slide Show

Information

Histogram, High Light Point Warning, AF frame, Exposure Mode, Metering Mode, Shutter Speed, F-Stop, Compensation level, ISO, Color Space, WB Mode, Focal Length, Focus Area, File Type, Contrast Level, Sharpness Level

Erase/Protect Function

Erase Mode

Single/All/Selected

Image Protec Mode

Single, Selected

Menu

Menu category

REC1, REC2, Play Back, Custom, Setup

Languages

English, German, Spanish, French, (English Set as Default OIMA). Add additional languages through Web

Customize

Custom Reset

4 types

External Connector

Personal Computer Interface

Full Speed USB 2.0 (12Mb/s)

Personal Computer Connector

USB connector: MiniB

Video Signal Output

Video Out Jack (NTSC or PAL selectable)

X-synchronization Socket (PC Socket)

Hot Shoe, External Flash Connector

Remote Cable

Through PS-HLD3 with Optional Remote Cable RM-CB1

DC-IN

DC-IN Jack ( Optional: AC Adapter AC-1)

Power Supply

Battery

Rechargeable Li-ion battery Pack BLM-1

Battery Check

Automatic check

Sleep Mode

Yes (1, 3, 5, 10 min. selectable)

Date/Time saving

Approx. 5 months using the built-in battery

AC Adapter

Optional AC adapter: AC-1 AC 100V-240V, 50-60Hz; DC 9V

Size/Weight

Dimensions

5.77 x 3.35 x 2.52 in./146.5 x 85 x 64mm

Weight

Approx. 20.5 oz./580g (without batteries and CF Card, Caps)

Operating Environment

Temperature

Operating Range; 32�F to 104�F ( 0 to 40�C)
Storage Range; -4�F to 140�F ( -20 to 60�C)

Humidity

Operating Range; 30 to 90%, Storage Range; 10%~90%

Dust and Splash Proof

No


Page 1
Introduction / Price
Page 2
Features
Page 3
Specifications
Page 4
Design
Page 5
Ease of Use
Page 6
Image Quality
Page 7
Sample Images
Page 8
Conclusion / Links

DIWAPhotographyBLOG is a member of the DIWA organisation. Our test results for the Olympus E-300 have been submitted to DIWA for comparison with test results for different samples of the same camera model supplied by other DIWA member sites.