Nikon D3300 vs Olympus PEN-F

Cameras
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Nikon D3300 vs Olympus PEN-F

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3300 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D3300 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D3300.
Compare Nikon D3300 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D3300 conclusion.

4/3 226.2mm²
20.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus PEN-F Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus PEN-F in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the PEN-F.
Compare Olympus PEN-F image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus PEN-F conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D3400
Compare D3300 vs D3400
Compare Nikon D3400 vs Olympus PEN-F

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Differences

Nikon D3300 advantages over Olympus PEN-F

Less expensive
$16 vs $999*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 3.36 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D3300 test data on DxO Mark PEN-F test data on DxO Mark

1,385 vs 894 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

700 vs 330 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 43 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Olympus PEN-F advantages over Nikon D3300

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Longer video battery life
80 vs 55 minutes
Capture more video
Thinner
37 mm vs 75 mm
Thinner
Less shutter lag
0.14 vs 0.26 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.62x vs 0.57x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.4 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.5 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
39 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Adorama
Read D3300 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read PEN-F User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality with lots of fine detail; Very good high ISO performance; Good dynamic range; Good print quality; Deep buffers with JPEGs; 1080/60p video; Uncompressed HDMI output.
AF struggles in low-light; Contrast-detect AF in live view is slow; Buffer depth is shallow with RAW files; No AE bracketing; No built-in Wi-Fi.
Read our Nikon D3300 Review

Highest resolution Olympus 4/3" camera yet; Excellent image quality for its class; Very good dynamic range; Fast autofocus; Fast burst speeds; Lots of fun creative filter options; Built-in EVF, Wi-Fi.
Expensive; No weather sealing; Mediocre battery life; No 4K video; No mic or headphone jacks.
Read our Olympus PEN-F Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D3200

Nikon D3300

Nikon D3200

$206
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$477
APS-C

Has anti-aliasing filter
Bigger RAW buffer

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Nikon D3200

Olympus PEN-F

Nikon D3200

$999
4/3

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$477
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Nikon D3200

Compared to Sony A37

Nikon D3300

Sony A37

$206
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$600
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Sony A37

Olympus PEN-F

Sony A37

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$600
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Sony A37

Compared to Canon T5

Nikon D3300

Canon T5

$206
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$399
APS-C

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Canon T5

Olympus PEN-F

Canon T5

$999
4/3

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Canon T5

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Nikon D3300

Panasonic GX85

$206
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Panasonic GX85

Olympus PEN-F

Panasonic GX85

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
High resolution composite

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GX85

Compared to Olympus E-PL8

Nikon D3300

Olympus E-PL8

$206
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$599
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Olympus E-PL8

Olympus PEN-F

Olympus E-PL8

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$599
4/3

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus E-PL8

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