The Olympus Evolt E-300 is one of the few digital SLRs you can find for under $500 retail. Though this camera may be relatively inexpensive for a dSLR, it's certainly not cheap. To begin with, the Evolt E-300 is equipped with a 8-megapixel full frame transfer CCD image sensor.

You may also be surprised to learn that the Evolt E-300 has a very effective Olympus-engineered Supersonic Wave Filter dust removal system. Situated between the shutter and the image sensor, the Supersonic Wave Filter utilizes lightning fast ultrasonic vibrations to shake off dust that has settled on the image sensor. The filter vibrates at up to 350,000 times per second every time the camera is turned on. This dramatically reduces the occurrence of photo blemishes due to dust.
The Evolt E-300 has an ISO range of 100-400 in automatic, and 100-1600 in manual,12 preset white balance settings from 12 types 3000K to 1000K, a built-in pop-up flash, 12 preset scene modes (including landscape, landscape-portrait, night scene, night-portrait, fireworks, sunset, portrait, high-key, macro, documents, museum, sport, beach & snow, and candle), 94% view field coverage, RAW (12 bit), TIFF (RGB 8 bit), and JPEG recording modes, a 1.8-inch color LCD display, and a Four Thirds lens mount compatible with interchangeable Zuiko digital lenses.

Key Features

• 8.0-megapixel SLR with full-frame transfer CCD (FFT CCD)
• User-friendly menu plus full manual operation; scene program and scene select program modes
• Records to CompactFlash cards and Microdrives
• Compatible with the complete range of Olympus E-system lenses and new accessories including Zuiko Digital 40-150mm (80-300mm) lens f3.5-4.5
• Compact design incorporates a built-in flash and hot shoe

Sample Photos taken with the Olympus Evolt E-300


Specifications

• Type: Digital SLR camera with interchangeable lenses
• Media: Compact Flash card (Type I, II), Micro Drive
• Imaging size: 17.3 by 13.0 millimeters
• Lens mount: Four Thirds mount
• Compatible lens: Zuiko digital, Four Thirds System lens
• Number of effective pixels: 8 million
• Image sensor type: Full-frame CCD (4/3 FFT-CCD)
• Effective pixel number: Approximately 8.15 million
• Aspect: 4:3
• Filter array: Primary color filter (RGB)
• Dustproof of image sensor: Yes (Supersonic Wave Filter)
• Recording format: DCF, DPOF compatible/Exif compatible, Print Image Matching II compatible
• Recording mode: RAW (12 bit), TIFF (RGB 8 bit), JPEG
• RAW + JPEG recording: Yes
• File size: RAW: 3264x2448; TIFF: 3264x2448); JPEG SHQ:(3264x2448) 1/4; HQ:(3264x2448) 1/8; SQ:(3264x2448) 1/2.7, (3264x2448) 1/4, (3264x2448) 1/8, (3200x2400) 1/2.7, (3200x2400) 1/4, (3200x2400) 1/8, (2560x1920) 1/2.7, (2560x1920) 1/4, (2560x1920) 1/8, (1600x1200) 1/2.7, (1600x1200) 1/4, (1600x1200) 1/8, (1280x960) 1/2.7, (1280x960) 1/4, (1280x960) 1/8, (1024x768) 1/2.7, (1024x768) 1/4, (1024x768) 1/8, (640x480) 1/2.7, (640x480) 1/4, (640x480) 1/8
• Viewfinder type: Eye-level single-lens-reflex viewfinder
• View field coverage: 94% centered horizontal/vertical
• Magnification: Approximately 1.00x with 50-millimeter lens set to infinity on -1 diopter
• Eye point: 20 millimeters 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
• Eye cup: Built-in EP-3
• Depth-of-field preview: Preview button
• Playback monitor type: HyperCrystal TFT color LCD
• Size: 1.8 inch/4.6 centimeters
• Pixel number: 134,000 pixels
• View field coverage: Approximately 100%
• Brightness control: +/- 7 steps
• Auto focus type: TTL Phase Difference Detection System
• Focus mode: Single AF/Continuous AF/Manual Focus
• Focus area: 3 points
• Detection range: EV 3 to 17 (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 focus ring, available for setting manual focus operation in Single AF mode
• Light-metering mode: Exposure measurement at open aperture; Digital ESP/Center Weighted Average/Spot (2%)
• Detection range: Digital ESP/Center Weighted Average; EV (exposure value) 1 to 20 Spot; EV 3 to 17 (50-millimeter 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: Landscape, Landscape+Portrait, Night Scene, Night+Portrait, Fireworks, Sunset, Portrait, High-Key, Macro, Documents, Museum, Sport, 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)
• One-shot bracketing: 3 or 5 frames in +/- 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV step (selectable), in addition to exposure bracketing
• White-balance system: Auto white-balance (WB) system advanced detection system with CCD imager
• Preset WB: 12 types (3000K to 1000K)
• WB compensation: Up to +/- 7 step in each Auto/Preset setting (2000-6000K, 100K; 6000-8000K, 200K; 8000-10000K, 500K)
• On-touch mode: 4 on-touch settings
• WB bracketing: 3 frames with +/- 5/10/15 mired steps
• Color space: sRGB/AdobeRGB
• Saturation: 5 levels
• Image quality sharpness: 8 levels
• Contrast: 5 levels
• Shutter type: Electronic-controlled focal-plane shutter
• Shutter speed: P, Ps (Program "P"/Program Shift "Ps") 2 seconds to 1/4000 second; A,S,M 60 seconds to 1/4000 second; Bulb (up to 8 minutes by limiter) (requires BHLD3 and RM-CB1); scene program and scene select: 2 seconds to 1/4000 second (depends on selected mode); 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV step selectable
• Self-timer: 12 or 2 seconds
• Remote control: Yes (pptional: remote control RM-1); 0 or 2 seconds (selectable)
• Drive mode: Single/sequential shooting
• Sequential shooting speed: Approximately 2.5 frames per second
• Maximum frame number on sequential shooting: RAW/TIFF 3 frames; JPEG (depend on compression ratio and pixel number)
• 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
• Control panel illumination: Yes
• Flash control type: TTL Auto FP/TTL Auto for Olympus-dedicated flash
• Built-in flash: Yes
• Flash modes: Auto, red-eye reduction, slow synchro, fill-in for exclusive flash
• X-sync speed: X=1/180 second or less (FP=1/30 seconds to 1/4000 second) (up to 1/4000 second with "Super FP" flashes)
• Intensity control: Up to +/- 2 EV (exposure value) 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 external 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 mode: Single/All/Selected
• Image protect mode: Single, Selected
• Menu category: REC1, REC2, Play Back, Custom, Setup
• Languages: English, German, Spanish, Japanese; English set as default, add other language through Web
• Custom reset: 4 types
• Personal computer interface: USB 1.1
• 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: Rechargeable Li-ion battery pack BLM-1
• Battery check: Automatic check
• Sleep mode: Yes (1, 3, 5, 10 minutes selectable)
• Date/time saving: Approximately 5 months using the built-in battery
• AC adapter: Optional AC adapter: AC-1 AC 100V-240V, 50-60Hz; DC 9V
• Size/weight dimensions (WxHxD): 5.7 by 3.4 by 2.5 inches (146 by 85 by 64 millimeters)
• Weight: 20.5 ounces/580 grams
• Temperature: Operating range: 32 degrees F to 104 degrees F (0 to 40 degrees C); storage range: -4 degrees F to 140 degrees F (-20 to 60 degrees C)
• Humidity: Operating range: 30 to 90%; storage range: 10 to 90%
• Dust and splash proof: SSWF (dust only)