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Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
58
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 30D front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Canon 30D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 784g - 144 x 106 x 74mm
  • Announced April 2006
  • Succeeded the Canon 20D
  • Replacement is Canon 40D
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-3
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Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Canon 30D versus Pentax K-3 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the 30D (8MP) and K-3 II (24MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The 30D was brought out 10 years before the K-3 II and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the 30D matches up against the K-3 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 30D over the Pentax K-3 II

 30D K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Canon 30D

 K-3 II 30D 
ReleasedApril 2015April 2006More recent by 110 months
Screen dimension3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Canon 30D and Pentax K-3 II

 30D K-3 II 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon 30D features exterior measurements of 144mm x 106mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") with a weight of 784 grams (1.73 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 II has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon 30D versus Pentax K-3 II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the 30D and the K-3 II.

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 30D and K-3 II is 58 and 59 respectively.

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specifications. The photograph here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the 30D and K-3 II.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Pentax K-3 II to deliver greater detail having its extra 16MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older 30D is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 30D Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography advice
51
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
MP count low (8MP)
79
has manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon 30D as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Street photography camera
52
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Canon 30D Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography highlights
44
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
terrible battery (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 30D Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography details
42
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
MP count low (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
weather proofing
resolution is good (24MP)
terrible battery (720 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 30D Landscape photography info
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography info
46
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
no Time Lapse recording
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 30D
Vlogging with Pentax K-3 II
9
lack of video recording
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Canon 30D vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 30D and Pentax K-3 II
 Canon EOS 30DPentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model Canon EOS 30D Pentax K-3 II
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2006-04-04 2015-04-23
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.5 x 15mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 3504 x 2336 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 51200
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF/EF-S Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 326 151
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options 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 (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 784 grams (1.73 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 144 x 106 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 59 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 13.6
DXO Low light score 736 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Two
Cost at launch $773 $829