Olympus EVOLT E-300

Conclusion
While there are significant design flaws and performance issues painfully apparent on the E-300, there is still a lot to value in a sub-$900 digital SLR. Foremost, the EVOLT E-300 is an inexpensive 8 megapixel camera with a solid build and durable casing. Additionally, Olympus has worked hard to create an impressive range of lenses and other accessories for it, and more than one manufacturer has also committed to making compatible lenses and camera bodies for the system. The E-300 also offers dust-removal technology that’s moderately effective, while its competitors don’t approach the issue in the same manner.

Performance-wise, I find the E-300’s autofocus system, with only three sensor sites and limited low-light capability, the most problematic aspect of the camera. Those users who plan on shooting action – not just sports or wildlife, but anything that moves faster than a potted plant – will find this camera’s focusing an unavoidable problem. I’d recommend either the Canon Rebel XT or the Nikon D70s over the E-300 on this issue alone. The result is that most users will get sharper pictures with other models.

In terms of design, the E-300’s dominating right-hand grip, which users rely on to control the camera, reminds me of sleeping on a broken futon. There is a hard, immobile plastic hump running vertically up the grip that makes it as uncomfortable as any camera I have ever handled. My other frustrations with the camera are the single jog dial layout, lackluster software and a small maximum aperture on the kit lens. These issues should not be deal breakers for every user, but should encourage consumers to at least take a look at other alternatives. It’s worth noting that the kit lens aperture is no worse than Canon and Nikon’s offerings.

The Four-Thirds format is not a drawback in technology, but the system has not developed to the point of reliability just yet. In a couple years, it may be a dominant format. But it isn’t dominant now. That’s a risk, and it’s also an inconvenience. Users who are loyal to Canon or Nikon bodies can walk into any local camera store and find used lenses for reasonably affordable rates – it’s not hard to do. E-300 users will not have such an easy time: an Olympus 50mm f/2.0 lens is probably fine quality wise - it’s a macro lens - but it’s $500 new, and good luck on the limited used market.

In the end, the Olympus EVOLT E-300 is certainly inferior to the Canon Rebel XT and Nikon D70s in most regards; however, the E-300’s solid construct and affordable price makes a place for it in the sub-$1,000 DSLR market. Also, the camera’s Supersonic Wave Filter offers more than a glimmer of hope that DSLRs can handle dust better than they do right now. The Olympus optical system has also traditionally been as good as you could get and in the future, it could potentially reestablish itself among the industry leaders. In sum, the strongest attributes of the EVOLT E-300 do not create a strong case for purchasing the camera; however, they should encourage consumers to take a close look at Olympus’s next DSLR.