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Canon 300D vs Olympus E-400

The Canon EOS 300D (called Canon Rebel in some regions) and the Olympus E-400 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in August 2003 and September 2006. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (300D) and a Four Thirds (E-400) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 6.3 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 10 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon 300D
versus
Olympus E-400
Canon 300D   Olympus E-400
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Four Thirds lenses
6.3 MP – APS-C sensor 10 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 100-1,600
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
1.8" LCD – 118k dots 2.5" LCD – 215k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
2.5 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
400 shots per battery charge500 shots per battery charge
142 x 99 x 72 mm, 649 g 130 x 91 x 53 mm, 435 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 300D and the Olympus E-400? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon 300D and the Olympus E-400 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon 300D vs Olympus E-400
Compare 300D versus E-400 top
Comparison 300D or E-400 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-400 is notably smaller (16 percent) than the Canon 300D. Moreover, the E-400 is markedly lighter (33 percent) than the 300D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 300D nor the E-400 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (300D) and the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-400).

Concerning battery life, the 300D gets 400 shots out of its Canon BP-511 battery, while the E-400 can take 500 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLS-1 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 300D 142 mm 99 mm 72 mm 649 g 400 n Aug 2003 EUR 1 095ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-400 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Sep 2006 EUR 699ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 10D 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 850 g 500 n Feb 2003 EUR 1 999ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 20D 144 mm 106 mm 72 mm 770 g 700 n Aug 2004 EUR 1 599ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 77D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 540 g 600 n Feb 2017 EUR 899ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 350D 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 n Feb 2005 EUR 899ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 400D 127 mm 84 mm 65 mm 556 g 370 n Aug 2006 EUR 799ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 650D 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 EUR 799ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 700D 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 580 g 440 n Mar 2013 EUR 599ebay.com
10.
 
Canon G1 X 117 mm 81 mm 65 mm 534 g 250 n Jan 2012 EUR 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 116 mm 74 mm 66 mm 553 g 240 n Feb 2014 EUR 849ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D70 140 mm 111 mm 78 mm 679 g 400 n Jan 2004 EUR 999ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 EUR 699ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-420 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2008 EUR 499ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-500 130 mm 95 mm 66 mm 479 g 750 n Sep 2005 EUR 599ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-510 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 538 g 750 n Mar 2007 EUR 799ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 EUR 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-400 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 22 percent) than the 300D, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 300D features an APS-C sensor and the Olympus E-400 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-400 is 34 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 2.0. The sensor in the 300D has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-400 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Canon 300D and Olympus E-400 sensor measures

Despite having a smaller sensor, the E-400 offers a higher resolution of 10 megapixels, compared with 6.3 MP of the 300D. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.74μm versus 7.38μm for the 300D). However, it should be noted that the E-400 is much more recent (by 3 years) than the 300D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Olympus E-400 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the E-400 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 18.2 x 13.7 inches or 46.3 x 34.7 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 14.6 x 10.9 inches or 37.1 x 27.8 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 12.2 x 9.1 inches or 30.9 x 23.2 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 300D are 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for good quality, 12.3 x 8.2 inches or 31.2 x 20.8 cm for very good quality, and 10.2 x 6.8 inches or 26 x 17.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 300D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The Olympus E-400 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

300D versus E-400 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 300D APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.010.854455
2.
 
Olympus E-400 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.010.612753
3.
 
Canon 10D APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.110.957157
4.
 
Canon 20D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.911.072162
5.
 
Canon 77D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.397178
6.
 
Canon 350D APS-C 8.0 3456 2304none21.810.863760
7.
 
Canon 400D APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.066462
8.
 
Canon 650D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
9.
 
Canon 700D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.268161
10.
 
Canon G1 X 1.5-inch 14.2 4352 32641080/24p21.710.864460
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 1.5-inch 13.0 4160 31201080/30p21.510.858158
12.
 
Nikon D70 APS-C 6.0 3008 2000none20.410.352950
13.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
14.
 
Olympus E-420 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.452756
15.
 
Olympus E-500 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.710.34551
16.
 
Olympus E-510 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.210.044252
17.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
Neither the 300D nor the E-400 offer Live View, so that they cannot project the live image that the sensor receives onto the rear screen. Moreover, both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 300D and the E-400 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the 300D has a higher magnification than the one of the E-400 (0.55x vs 0.46x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 300D, the Olympus E-400, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon 300Doptical n1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
2.
 
Olympus E-400optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 10Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon 20Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon 77Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 350Doptical n1.8 / 115 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon 400Doptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon 650Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon 700Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon G1 Xoptical n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/4000s 1.9/s Y Y
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIoptional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 5.2/s Y Y
12.
 
Nikon D70optical n1.8 / 130 fixed n 1/8000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
14.
 
Olympus E-420optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
15.
 
Olympus E-500optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
16.
 
Olympus E-510optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The 300D writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the E-400 uses Compact Flash or xD Picture cards. The E-400 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 300D only has one slot.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 300D and Olympus E-400 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 300DY- / ----1.1---
2.
 
Olympus E-400Y- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Canon 10DY- / ----1.1---
4.
 
Canon 20DY- / ----1.1---
5.
 
Canon 77DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
6.
 
Canon 350DY- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Canon 400DY- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Canon 650DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
9.
 
Canon 700DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
10.
 
Canon G1 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
12.
 
Nikon D70Y- / ----1.0---
13.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
14.
 
Olympus E-420Y- / ----2.0---
15.
 
Olympus E-500Y- / ----2.0---
16.
 
Olympus E-510Y- / ----2.0---
17.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---

Both the 300D and the E-400 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 300D was replaced by the Canon 350D, while the E-400 was followed by the Olympus E-410. Further information on the features and operation of the 300D and E-400 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 300D Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-400 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 300D and the Olympus E-400? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 300D:

  • Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
  • Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.55x vs 0.46x).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2003).

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Arguments in favor of the Olympus E-400:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (10 vs 6.3MP), which boosts linear resolution by 24%.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.5" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (215k vs 118k dots).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (130x91mm vs 142x99mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 214g or 33 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (500 versus 400) out of a single battery charge.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.1).
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (22 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years of technical progress since the 300D launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-400 is the clear winner of the contest (11 : 6 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

300D 06:11 E-400

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 300D and the Olympus E-400 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 300D or the E-400. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 300D......+ +.... Aug 2003 EUR 1 095ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-400..85/100....4/54/5 Sep 2006 EUR 699ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 10D......+ +.... Feb 2003 EUR 1 999ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 20D......+ +.... Aug 2004 EUR 1 599ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 77D4.5/5..4/582/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 EUR 899ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 350D..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 EUR 899ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 400D..+ +..+ +o4/5 Aug 2006 EUR 799ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 650D4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 EUR 799ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 700D......76/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2013 EUR 599ebay.com
10.
 
Canon G1 X5/5+..76/1004/54.5/5 Jan 2012 EUR 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II3/5+..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2014 EUR 849ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D70......+ +.... Jan 2004 EUR 999ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 EUR 699ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-420..85/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2008 EUR 499ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-500..76/100..+ +.... Sep 2005 EUR 599ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-510..89/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Mar 2007 EUR 799ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 EUR 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Canon 300D vs Olympus E-400

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 300D Olympus E-400
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date August 2003 September 2006
    Launch Price USD 899 USD 699
    Sensor Specs Canon 300D Olympus E-400
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.7 x 15.1 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 342.77 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 27.3 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 6.3 Megapixels 10 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3072 x 2048 pixels 3648 x 2736 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 7.38 μm 4.74 μm
    Pixel Density 1.84 MP/cm2 4.44 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC TruePic
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 55 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.0 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.8 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 544 ..
    Screen Specs Canon 300D Olympus E-400
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.55x 0.46x
    Rear LCD Size 1.8inch 2.5inch
    LCD Resolution 118k dots 215k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon 300D Olympus E-400
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 2.5 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF cards CF or XD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    Connectivity Specs Canon 300D Olympus E-400
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 1.1 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon 300D Olympus E-400
    Battery Type Canon BP-511 Olympus BLS-1
    Battery Life (CIPA)400 shots per charge500 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 142 x 99 x 72 mm
    (5.6 x 3.9 x 2.8 in)
    130 x 91 x 53 mm
    (5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1 in)
    Camera Weight 649 g (22.9 oz) 435 g (15.3 oz)
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