Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-30
59 Imaging
37 Features
36 Overall
36
63 Imaging
56 Features
66 Overall
60
Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 1.8" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- No Video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
- Revealed November 2003
- Renewed by Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
- Introduced October 2012
- New Model is Pentax K-50
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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.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe 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.
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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.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax K-30
| E-1 | K-30 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-1
| K-30 | E-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | October 2012 | November 2003 | Fresher by 108 months | |
| Screen size | 3" | 1.8" | Bigger screen (+1.2") | |
| Screen resolution | 921k | 134k | Sharper screen (+787k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-30
| E-1 | K-30 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus | More exact focus | |||
| Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
| Selfie screen | Absent selfie screen | |||
| Touch screen | Absent Touch screen |
Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison
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.
Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison
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.
Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications
| Olympus E-1 | Pentax K-30 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Make | Olympus | Pentax |
| Model | Olympus E-1 | Pentax K-30 |
| Category | Pro DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
| Revealed | 2003-11-29 | 2012-10-29 |
| Body design | Large SLR | Mid-size SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor Chip | - | Prime M |
| Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
| Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.7 x 15.7mm |
| Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 372.1mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 5 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 |
| Highest Possible resolution | 2560 x 1920 | 4928 x 3264 |
| Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 12800 |
| Maximum enhanced ISO | - | 25600 |
| Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW support | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focus | ||
| AF touch | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| Single AF | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detection AF | ||
| Contract detection AF | ||
| Phase detection AF | ||
| Number of focus points | 3 | 11 |
| Cross focus points | - | 9 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
| Total lenses | 45 | 151 |
| Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen sizing | 1.8 inch | 3 inch |
| Resolution of screen | 134 thousand dot | 921 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch friendly | ||
| Screen technology | - | TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.48x | 0.61x |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
| Max shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/6000 secs |
| Continuous shutter speed | 3.0fps | 6.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Change WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash range | no built-in flash | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| Flash options | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless |
| External flash | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Max flash sync | 1/180 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) |
| Maximum video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
| Video data format | - | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Mic input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | Optional |
| Physical | ||
| Environmental seal | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 735 grams (1.62 lb) | 650 grams (1.43 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") | 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall score | not tested | 79 |
| DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.7 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 13.0 |
| DXO Low light score | not tested | 1129 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | - | 410 pictures |
| Battery format | - | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | - | D-LI109,4 x AA |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Storage media | Compact Flash (Type I or II) | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
| Launch cost | $1,700 | $525 |