Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-30

Here is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-1 versus Pentax K-30, former being a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-1 was introduced 10 years earlier than the K-30 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-1 matches up versus the K-30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-1 & Pentax K-30. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-1 Gallery & Pentax K-30 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-1 provides exterior dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-1 versus Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-1 versus the K-30.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and K-30 is 59 and 63 respectively.

Often, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and K-30.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-1 with its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-30 will provide greater detail using its extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.