Value (4.5)
The E-300 is a solidly-built digital SLR with a straightforward interface. It’s not fast, and it’s not smaller than the competition, but it is an 8 megapixel SLR for less than $900, and that’s unique. The E-300 is a capable camera with many thoughtful design features, but the camera doesn’t beat its competition in any regard. It’s inexpensive, but for most people looking at $900 cameras, a $1,000 camera is within reach, and they are all better buys. The E-300 is the most affordable camera in the class, but for an obvious reason; it is inferior to the competition and looks to price as a means of leverage, which it attains.
Every digital SLR is part of a system, and the great advantage of these cameras is that you can expand their capabilities with new lenses and other accessories, and even buy another, more advanced camera to use alongside them. The E-300 buyers will take a risk when it comes to this. The E-300 is only the second Four-Thirds camera, and the first one, the E-1, was not met with the enthusiastic reception its promoters had hoped for. Maybe Four-Thirds will be the next big thing, but what if it isn't? There’s no way to predict where the Four-Thirds system is going, and that’s why consumers may want to wait and see where it goes rather than jump on it from the start. Besides, the majority of interested consumers looking at the E-300 see it as an affordable alternative, not a substantial investment.
Comparisons
Canon Rebel XT - The Canon Rebel XT retails for just under $1,000 with its kit lens. Though it’s hard to predict durability, the E-300 feels much more robust than the Rebel, which has a thin, polycarbonate casing that feels a bit flimsy. But the Rebel XT wins an important feature comparison: it has seven autofocus sites, not just three. Just as important, the autofocus sites are small and precise, making it easier to figure out what you’re focusing on. According to the specs, the Rebel XT’s burst rate is about 10 percent faster than the E-300 and should continue in burst longer at full resolution. The Rebel XT’s LCD screen has a somewhat lower resolution, with 115,000 pixels rather than 134,000, so visibility on the XT is slightly compromised. Canon’s wide selection of lenses and cameras, the widest range of equipment available, make the Rebel XT particularly attractive to users who think they may upgrade to more capable cameras and buy a range of lenses.
Nikon D70s - For more money, the $1,200 (with lens) Nikon D70s is faster both in burst speed and focusing. A large image buffer and remarkable engineering allow bursts of up to 144 frames. The D70s is an upgrade of the very popular and proven D70, but it remains a 6 megapixel camera, like the D50. The D70s feels stronger and more durable than the Canon Rebels, but seems equally as resilient as the E-300. The shape of the Nikon lens mount has been consistent for decades, and the top-end Nikon cameras can mount and operate older lenses, so Nikon equipment is as resistant to obsolescence as can be expected these days.
Nikon D50 - For those users who do not need the additional resolution, the 6 megapixel Nikon D50 is a significant alternative to the E-300 and is also available for under $900 with a lens. The D50 matches the E-300 in burst speed and display resolution, and with six autofocus sites, does much better than the E-300 at covering the frame. At 5.3 x 4.1 x 3 inches, the D50 is only slightly larger than the E-300. Its 2-inch LCD screen is also larger than either the E-300 or the Rebel XT’s displays, which are both 1.8 inches. The Nikon D50 is the least expensive way to start a Nikon DSLR system. The camera takes Secure Digital storage media, rather than CompactFlash, as all the other Nikon DSLRs do.
Canon EOS 20D - Canon makes two of the three least expensive 8 megapixel DSLRs currently on the market. The Canon 20D, available online with a kit lens for under $1,350 (USD), is the most expensive. It’s substantially more than the E-300 or Canon Rebel XT, and it's easy to see why: it’s in a different class. The EOS 20D is much faster, with a burst speed of 5 frames per second and much faster focusing. It’s far more solid than the Rebel XT, and much more ergonomic than the E-300. The advantages of the 20D justify the additional cost for users who can afford it.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters - Though the E-300 includes provisions for the snapshooter, such as simplified shooting modes and direct printing, it’s larger, heavier and more capable than most snapshooters need, and at a cost that they don’t need either.
Budget Consumers - At $100 less than the Canon Rebel XT, the E-300 should appeal to users on a tight budget and a need for a DSLR. Having said that, for only $100 more, consumers willing to invest the extra money will walk away with a far stronger value.
Manual Control Freaks - The E-300 contains enough manual options to appease the true control junkies out there. Not only do all the standard exposure parameters offer easy manual access, but the correlating Kelvin temperature readings of white balance presets and the compression ratios of the JPEG settings takes the user “under the hood” a bit.
Gadget Freaks - The E-300 has some cool features for gadget lovers – the ultrasonic dust shaker comes to mind first. As the second Four-Thirds format DSLR, it’s fairly cutting-edge as well. There’s some coolness here, even with the clunky styling. Also, the feeble pop-up flash may not remain attached to the frame for too long, providing those get-your-hands-dirty type of users an opportunity to do some repair work.
Pros / Serious Hobbyists - I don’t expect many pros to adopt a Four-Thirds system based on the E-300, given its lack of speed, limited autofocus, and clumsy layout. It’s just a wiser purchase at this point to buy a Canon or Nikon model, based on the quality of their optics and the number of lens options available.
