The Olympus E-300, does it live up to the hype?

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The 2004 Olympus E-300 is getting a lot of hype amongst enthusiasts lately. I’ve got this 8MP (Kodak CCD sensor) DSLR for a while now and it’s time to share some thoughts (and plenty samples, ofcourse!) on this camera.
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[@bartjanverhoef]

FYI: All of the images shown in the video are also up on my website (+ a bunch more): www.bartjanverhoef.com/youtube/the-olympus-e300-does-it-live-up-to-the-hype

[@gameon2000]

bought e-300 back in 2012 for $60 instantly fell in love with its colors, nice to see, I could sell it for like 3x the price (due to the hype), but the hell I won't! 😂 I used to hate its non-DSLR looks, but bow I love its quirky looks and hefty weight (use it with vintage manual long lenses primarily)

[@kimc5750]

I am soon to celebrate my 20th anniversary with the wonderful camera. My first big girl digital purchase. I love the sunset colors, the sunrise colors, and the macros with the joyful 50mm f/2. When they became dirt cheap before the KZbin hype hit, I purchased two basically new backups. Great video with lovely photos.

[@luzr6613]

Thanks, Bart - this was nice to see. I bought my E-300 new, with the battery grip, in '05, and i still use it. The reasons i chose this camera was because it looked so odd and i'd had film OMs. Firstly, i use it mindful of its limitations - i only shoot it in good light. Most of the shots you were taking i wouldn't go near with it. I also only use it in the summer - i love it too much to risk hurting it and it's not weather-sealed. Because i have other 4/3 cameras - E-620 AND E5 - i have lots of native glass, but i mainly shoot the E-300 with my Takumars and a couple of vintage Oly lenses. I feel that the images do have a little something special with this glass... a different quality to what i get when i shoot the Taks on my K1 - closer in character, somehow, to my Spotmatic. The great challenge shooting with vintage glass is focusing with that (pretty horrible) OVF. The screen, of course, is only useful for the menu. RAW, M, and an external meter. I'm totally with you on the shutter sound!!! I'm getting a bit excited now... thanks to you! We're just coming into Spring in this part of the world, which means the E300 can come out soon and that's really cool. Great vid - Lkd&Subd. All the very best from a cabin in a swamp in a rainforest in New Zealand.

[@CheikoSairin]

Beautiful picture from this camera. Good Job!!!! A big LIKE from Singapore.

[@waltherziemerink]

Oh, yes it does. I've been searching for the 25mm f2.8 for ages in South-Africa but it is soooo scarce. I luckily found a Sigma 30mm f1.4 and now that thing just shines. Still want the 25mm though. The photos out of this camera is just Lekker.

[@martonjuhasz6569]

As far as I know, CCD sensors were discontinued because of their slow readout speed versus the CMOS ones. And maybe the higher energy consumption was the other reason. So, in our fast world, in my opinion they can stay only for joy, like a shutter therapy walk. They can produce very nice and really different results my eyes can enjoy, but in general I prefer the more realistic appearance. I think "CCD colors" are about the smaller dynamic range because of that the older demosaic algorithms had to work with less detailed information than the modern ones.

[@luzr6613]

CCD Sensors are still widely used in astro, industrial, medical and scientific settings. They only really died out in consumer cameras, and precisely why that determination was made is probably difficult to establish with any certainty.

[@vedranr.glavina7667]

Ok, but why Leica is still using them ?

[@LEGOTROLL1]

ccd sensors cost more to produce

[@MoonWalkCTO]

What strikes me most about this review is that it's most likely someone will be doing such a video in 15+ years time, about a current "cutting edge" camera they found in a bargain-bin..."can the EOS R still hold its own 15 years later" 😂

[@bartjanverhoef]

Haha I’m sure they will! There is a signifcant difference between these early digital cameras and cameras from, say the last decade. There was a point somewhere in time where newer cameras didn’t neccesarily meant ‘better’ images (maybe more MP’s, easier to use, faster or more features etc) and I think it’s that’s a very interesting era to (re)discover. But yeah, you’re probably still right there. Compared to what cameras might be capable of in 15 years, we’ll probably consider todays offering oldschool and pre-something too. Either way, I’ll happily pick up an EOS R for a few 100 by then and give it a go😊

[@portofino8823]

I print A4 from my Nikon D300 and D3 with a photo printer and up to A2 for poster like print. Even A1 with an upscale. All these formats looks great from the viewing distance.

[@raagtop363]

I recently came upon an Olympus E-300 with the 40/150 Zuko. I believe the last photo taken with this camera was in 2017. Surprisingly the battery charged up and everything appears to be functional. Thank you for this video. You have shortened my learning curve as this is my first experience with anything other than Nikon DSLRs. Great video!

[@archimark5060]

Enjoyed your video, Bart....Very helpful! Although wish you would have included some photos taken at the same time with your PEN-E camera, so that we could see if any noticeable differences.

[@bartjanverhoef]

Thanks! Yeah, that would be an interesting comparison. I’ll try that sometimes, using the E-P1 next to this E-300 and compare the SOOC results.

[@AdamSondel]

I like that camera. I got also E-330. Both are amazing.

[@KimHojbergJensen]

Nice! I have been thinking about this, but I have so many old cameras already. It is funny how different we all are. I use the view finder only on all my cameras (except the E-P5 😊). Even on the OM-1 the screen is back side out. I only use the screens when in the menu. - by the way, the best shutter sound in the world is on the Canon 5D (mark I).

[@bartjanverhoef]

Ah yes, sorry I meant using the optical vf, as opposed to an electronical one (or indeed an lcd that also offers a live view). I was already interested in that Canon 5d btw, but now that you mention its shutter sound I really need to make work of finding one😅

[@joeprete7424]

Hey Bart, nice video!

[@bartjanverhoef]

Thanks Joe!

[@KarySchump]

I found your channel through your video on the overview of the Olympus Pen series. I quite enjoyed your video and it was so calm and enjoyable to see your photo walk. I have this camera and quite enjoy it! I've subscribed! Thank you!

[@TechWithBruno]

So many beautiful photos!

[@janedoe4627]

I got mine only yesterday and it's the first digital camera with a mirror that I have used (back in film days and early digital days had compact point and shoots switching to mirrorless). First thought: not that easy but fun. And, yay, the limitations are what challenges me. I love it but I'm glad it's not my only camera 😅

[@brennenf]

I recently picked up an E-410, which is from 2007 and has a CMOS. It’s at least 1/3 smaller body than the E-300, and super lightweight. With that 24mm pancake, it really does feel like a modern mirrorless, and it retains that satisfying shutter sound. At 10Mp, I can get satisfying 8x10 prints, and I appreciate you bringing that element into the review as I don’t see that much. I’m really attached to the Evolt series overall (I have an E-500 too) and only wish the lens system had matured. Though not as hyped as the 300, pick up one of the later models as the ergonomics and quality improved, and you can get the bodies for a song.

[@bartjanverhoef]

I do have an E-420, found that one as a full kit in great condition for next to nothing. And I do love that one too! And even though it’s just 2MP’s more than that E-300, I find the prints are quite a bitter better too. I’m getting quite into the Evolt series too, really enjoying those cameras.

[@luzr6613]

Seventeen years ago i bought an E-300 - which i still have. A month ago i bought an E-1. Anyone contemplating an E-300... give the E-1 a try if you can first. It is gorgeous, especially with manual glass.

[@dunsunyt]

Exactly. E300 is nice but E1 is the one to choose for testing that CCD vibe. Actually I hate all these not 100% coverage viewfinders. I really want to see exactly what I get in my photos. Thus E1 or later E3, E30 and E5 models. Cheers

[@mariorruiz]

Ik heb toevallig een 2de hands deze week gekocht en vroeg me af hoe de prints gingen uitzien. Dankjewel dus voor het maken van de prints om een idee te krijgen. Ik vind dat je als je zo een camera koopt is om hem juist op jpg te schieten omdat je dan de kleuren en de rendering van de sensor wil, in raw schieten heeft dan voor mij weinig zin. Leuke filmpje!

[@eelco6587]

Hoi Bart, Leuke video. Ik wist niet dat de E-300 nu toch weer geliefd aan het worden is. Ik wil nog wat 4/3 lenzen gaan verkopen, dus komt goed uit😉. Ik ben zelf begonnen met de E-500, met daarna een E-1. Welke uiteindelijk vervangen zijn voor de E-3 en de E-520. Recent heb ik een video gezien van een youtuber Colton Matocha. Zijn video heet: Which affects color more? Your Sensor Type, or the brand's Color Science? op basis van zijn onderzoek lijkt het dat Olympus kleuren de reden zijn. Veel andere merken zijn standaard neutraler en soms ook minder accuraat zoals zijn Sony. Het kleurverschil tussen de Olympus 4/3 sensoren is niet heel uitgesproken in zijn test.

[@bartjanverhoef]

Ja de four thirds zijn, in elk geval de CCD varianten, ook wel populair aan het worden weer! Ik weet niet welke lenzen je verkoopt, maar voor sommige wordt wel serieus geld gevraagd ook. Die video van Colton Matochacha ga ik opzoeken, interessant!

[@eelco6587]

@@bartjanverhoef Ik zit te denken aan de één van de 2 E-520, 14-35 f2, 35-100 f2, 14-54mm, wellicht ook de 7-14 f4, 50mm f2, 8mm FE, Panasonic Leica 25mm f1.4 en de 14-150. Ik heb een heel complete zet (gehad) waar al diverse lenzen van verkocht zijn. Ik merk dat ik micro 4/3 en sinds kort ook het L-systeem prefereer. Ook al gebruik ik sommige lenzen met een converter. Ik wil nog wel wat bewaren zoals Een E-520 en de E-3 en 12-60 en de 50-200. Ik merk dat ik te veel heb. Ook omdat ik graag analoog schiet. Het zijn pracht lenzen.

[@bartjanverhoef]

Oh wow mooie set heb je! Als je tzt ergens wat te koop hebt staan laat maar weten, daar zitten zeker een paar lenzen bij waarin ik ook wel interesse zou hebben (overigens zeker ook die 50-200, maar ik snap dat je die bewaard:)). Welke m43 serup gebruik je?

[@eelco6587]

@@bartjanverhoef Ook dat is een flinke verzameling. De apparatuur die ik het meest gebruik zijn de Olympus OM-1 en de GX9. De lenzen die ik het vaakst gebruik zijn Panasonic 8-18, 12-40, (8-18 + 12-60 f2.8-4 en 100-300 of 100-400 voor uitstapjes). Laowa 10mm, 50mm macro, Olympus 17mm f1.8, 20m f1.4, Sigma 56mm f1.4. Mijn favoriet en tot ongeveer een jaar geleden ''droomlens'' is de 150-400mm 4.5. Daar beleef ik echt veel plezier van en is wellicht mijn meest gebruikte lens. Ik had ook nog een four thirds 300mm f2.8. Die is enkele maanden geleden verkocht. Was mij te zwaar geworden en past minder bij mijn type fotografie. Waar flexibiliteit een onderdeel van is. Ook in het M43 kamp overweeg ik nog wel wat te afbouwen. Ben daar nog niet uit. Misschien de 100-400 en nog wat primes. Ook omdat ik voor opdrachten mijn S5 met 24-105mm prefereer. Daardoor is voor mij de 12-40mm ook mogelijk werkeloos.

[@selzzaW]

Wow, those prints look great!

[@mfs62789]

An 8 Megapixel camera produces a file size that is 2448 x 3264 PPI. The image dimensions are about 8″ x 11″ at maximum quality (2448/300 & 3264/300).Jun 21, 2023

[@mikelecss]

Thank you for your honest review, I see too many hype around the CCD sensor of that generation. For example I owned the e-330 as my first dslr and can say to you the color were very similiar to the one showed here, and in general I think the image was better overall. Also owned the EP-1, and it's the same: overall better than the e-330. Maybe the only camera I have seen having a slightly different colour, so richful, have been the x-100 from fujifilm: when I have changed to the S version, I have found a different colour approach, more washed out if I can say. But there are really great cameras with CMOS that can give you stunning results, just to say D700, 5d mk1 and 2, expecially the mk2 is an absolute bargain.

[@bartjanverhoef]

I’ve got a Canon 5D mark i too and indeed, that camera is just amazing in terms of color and ‘feel’. There’s just some cameras that have that special thing and it seems its not just because of the sensor alone.

[@marcdenhoed5461]

Leuke video Bart! Ik heb nu zelf de E-300, 400 en 500. Stuk voor stuk prachtige camera's. Vooral met de 25mm pancake lens of de 50mm f2.0. Ik vind echter de viewfinder van de E-300 lastig te gebruiken: geen duidelijk kader maar meer een soort venster met vervaagde randen. Ben benieuwd of jij dat herkent.

[@ditto1958]

I have an E-300. I also have an E-500. I also briefly owned an E-330, as well as an E-510. The E-300 is both very flawed by today’s standards, but also does live up to the hype. Weaknesses are unreliable auto white balance, poor high-ISO performance, poor low light AF, slow AF. Oh, and the viewfinder is tiny. Like looking down a tunnel. But the Zuiko lenses for the system, both pro and kit, are excellent, and the camera can produce beautiful colors, and a look that’s unique to the camera, different from the E-1 and E-500, despite all three having Kodak sensors. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, the E-300 makes Kodachrome. That’s the best… It’s also got a robust build quality, with metal parts on the body, a nice speckled finish on the plastic parts. It’s much less plasticky than the E-500.

[@jameschang2736]

Which version of firmware on your e-300? V1 has very unreliable auto WB but later firmware works much better.

[@ditto1958]

I did any firmware updates that were available

[@TheBonswah]

Leuke video! Ik sleep mijn E300 ondertussen alweer bijna 20 jaar mee. Op wat slechter wordende accu's en een aantal dode pixels na doet hij het nog steeds goed! p.s. mocht je ooit afscheid van die 25mm pancake willen nemen dan hoor ik het graag ;)

[@TheMrBennito]

Where exactly is the location, BartJan? Holland, yet I don't recognize the dune landscape? Question: would there be a specific reason to choose a e400 over the e300? The e400 seems to be much harder to get a hold on. Vriendelijke groeten, really nice photos, ik fotografeer ook veel aan zee:)

[@bartjanverhoef]

It’s in the Westduinpark in The Hague. As for the E-400 vs. E-300; the E-400 is slightly new, few more MP’s, and it’s very compact. I haven’t owned that one myself but I did have an E-410 and an E-420 for a bit. The metering on all these is probably a bit better than the on the E-300, otherwise I can’t think of much reasons to pick those over the E-300. And I wouldn’t, I find the E-300 a much more remarkable camera.

[@TheMrBennito]

​@@bartjanverhoefthanks for the fast reply:) I just got hold of an e-400 with 14-42mm digital, on an ebay auction, eur 260 incl mailing/import tax is fine with me, mainly chosen because of larger/clearer screen (69year old eyes). Will update after first impression:)

[@flixfan1]

If you're using Adobe to debayer your raw files, you're not getting the original Olympus/Kodak color science. Adobe does a great job but it makes every camera look sort of similar. Olympus has a horrible raw processor but you get the color science that everyone raves about.

[@CeroYoutubo]

you should hear E-1 shutter :)

[@bartjanverhoef]

I do in fact own an E-1, but somehow I prefer the sound of the E-300 to the E-1 :)

[@luzr6613]

The fabled E1... do i buy one just for the sound??? (Probably will - aaargh.) And i bought one... with 00000000029 clicks on it! It's just so nice with manual glass and yes, the shutter is almost supernatural. What an awesome bit of kit.

[@dominicpclarke]

What ppi are you using for prints? I'd be fine with like 120 (or even 72) or so for a larger size.

[@vladcam4]

@bartjanverhoef is de batterij grip van de E-300 nog ergens tweedehands verkrijgbaar online...?

[@petepictures]

They are lovely , I also shoot Oly and Lumix cameras

[@markhoffman9655]

I reckon the E-300 is one of the ugliest cameras made - by anyone! But I got it and loved the colours from the Kodak CCD sensor - used mine for several weddings and results were great - skin tones especially. Subscribed!

[@bartjanverhoef]

Haha its definetely not a natural beauty, but I’d say plenty of contenders in the 90’s and early 2k. I actually kind of like the E-300 aesthetic, but admittetedly, it had to grow on me😊. I haven’t used it for portraits much, should try that too, curious how it’ll do there. Did you shoot it manual or in any of the auto modes for things like weddings?

[@Badgerheist]

Somehow the E-330 is even uglier, but I still love it.

[@MrAndreCoutinho]

It’s definitely quirky, that’s a plus for me, cooler a regular dslr body.

[@luzr6613]

He called it UGLY! Makes my blood boil....

[@knwohwo9737]

don’t find it ugly at all

[@qyv03176]

素敵なタイプライターですね

[@pralkowcypl3646]

Thanx !

[@telosfd]

I have this E-300 DSLR Olympus. Can i use their Zuiko lenses for another camera type?

[@StephenStrangways]

The lenses can be used on other Four Thirds cameras: Panasonic L1 and L10, and Leica Digilux 3.

[@jigggro]

Sir is it possible to make a video on its settings. As I don’t get menu on the screen when I’m in manual, I don’t know how to adjust fstop etc. would appreciate it.

[@bartjanverhoef]

Do you see your setting in the viewfinder? Or also not?

[@jigggro]

So I just knocked it around a bit. More or less the info button was stuck. Working now! However, if is there is enough demand and you’d have the time, I think the right settings tutorial for his little screen would be awesome, especially to get that Leica m9 look that this cam can purportedly give.

[@knwohwo9737]

was this video shot in portugal? or netherlands? 😊

[@bartjanverhoef]

Netherlands, The Hague to be precise😊

[@knwohwo9737]

@@bartjanverhoef nice. i actually enjoyed some truffels there once :)))

[@MoonWalkCTO]

May I ask where the location is of the sea-side shots?

[@bartjanverhoef]

It’s at the North sea here in The Netherlands, in the Westduinpark in The Hague (and to be REALLY specific: it’s a the lookout point called ‘Uitkijkpunt Vogelwijk’ that you can find on Google maps :)).

[@MoonWalkCTO]

@@bartjanverhoef amazing, looks like sections of the coastline in south africa near cape town, similar shrubland

[@J7baodaF22]

a very special dslr. but somehow ugly compare to olympus pen series