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Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1

Portability
58
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 30D front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Canon 30D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 784g - 144 x 106 x 74mm
  • Revealed April 2006
  • Replaced the Canon 20D
  • New Model is Canon 40D
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • New Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Canon and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the 30D (8MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the 30D (APS-C) and K-1 (Full frame) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 30D was unveiled 11 years prior to the K-1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the 30D matches up against the K-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 30D over the Pentax K-1

 30D K-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Canon 30D

 K-1 30D 
LaunchedFebruary 2016April 2006More modern by 120 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Canon 30D and Pentax K-1

 30D K-1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon 30D features outer dimensions of 144mm x 106mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") with a weight of 784 grams (1.73 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 has dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the 30D versus the K-1.

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the 30D and K-1 is 58 and 55 respectively.

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by seeing a spec sheet. The picture here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the 30D and K-1.

As you can see, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 30D with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will produce more detail having an extra 28 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged 30D will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 30D
Portrait photography with Pentax K-1
51
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
85
you can focus manually
excellent megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 30D as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Street photography camera
52
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
70
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
above average high ISO (204,800)
heavier than competitors (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 30D
Sports photography with Pentax K-1
44
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (4.4 frames/s)
terrible battery power (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 30D
Travel photography with Pentax K-1
42
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
53
weather proofing
excellent megapixels (36 megapixels)
terrible battery power (760 shots)
heavier than competitors (1,010g)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon 30D Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography advice
46
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
81
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
two card slots
terrible battery power (760 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 30D as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than competitors (1,010g)
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Canon 30D vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 30D and Pentax K-1
 Canon EOS 30DPentax K-1
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS 30D Pentax K-1
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2006-04-04 2016-02-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 22.5 x 15mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 3504 x 2336 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 1600 204800
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 326 151
Crop factor 1.6 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 784g (1.73 pounds) 1010g (2.23 pounds)
Dimensions 144 x 106 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 59 96
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 14.6
DXO Low light rating 736 3280
Other
Battery life - 760 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots One 2
Pricing at launch $773 $1,499