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Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
64
Imaging
44
Features
39
Overall
42
Nikon D50 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Nikon D50
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 620g - 133 x 102 x 76mm
  • Revealed July 2005
  • Renewed by Nikon D40X
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
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Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Nikon D50 and Pentax K-30, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Nikon and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the D50 (6MP) and K-30 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D50 was announced 8 years earlier than the K-30 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the D50 scores against the K-30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D50 over the Pentax K-30

 D50 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Nikon D50

 K-30 D50 
LaunchedOctober 2012July 2005Fresher by 88 months
Display sizing3"2"Larger display (+1")
Display resolution921k130kClearer display (+791k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D50 and Pentax K-30

 D50 K-30 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon D50 comes with external dimensions of 133mm x 102mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 620 grams (1.37 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D50 and Pentax K-30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the D50 against the K-30.

Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D50 and K-30 is 64 and 63 respectively.

Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through specifications. The photograph here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D50 and K-30.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should expect to see the Pentax K-30 to give greater detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images a little more aggressively. The older D50 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D50 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography features
53
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D50 Street photography info
Pentax K-30 Street photography info
58
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (620 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D50 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D50 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-30 Travel photography advice
50
lighter than competitors in class (620 grams)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
60
weather proofing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery life (410 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D50 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography highlights
46
has manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2 inches)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
low battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D50 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-30 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic support
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Nikon D50 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D50 and Pentax K-30
 Nikon D50Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D50 Pentax K-30
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2005-07-23 2012-10-29
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.5mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 367.4mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 3008 x 2000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 309 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2" 3"
Resolution of screen 130 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.5x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 620g (1.37 pounds) 650g (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 133 x 102 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 79
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 13.0
DXO Low light rating 560 1129
Other
Battery life - 410 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL3 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $499 $525