Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-1
60 Imaging
46 Features
54 Overall
49
55 Imaging
75 Features
82 Overall
77
Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- No Video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
- Released March 2009
(Full Review)
- 36MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
- 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
- Revealed February 2016
- New Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Here, we are analyzing the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-1, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) provide different sensor dimensions.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe E-30 was revealed 8 years before the K-1 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).
Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-30 grades against the K-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
Photography Glossary Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-1 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-30 & Pentax K-1. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-30 Gallery & Pentax K-1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax K-1
| E-30 | K-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selfie screen | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-30
| K-1 | E-30 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | February 2016 | March 2009 | More recent by 84 months | |
| Display size | 3.2" | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.5") | |
| Display resolution | 1037k | 230k | Crisper display (+807k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-1
| E-30 | K-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus | Very exact focus | |||
| Display type | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated display | |
| Touch friendly display | Neither features Touch friendly display |
Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison
For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 enjoys physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") along with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-30 compared to the K-1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and K-1 is 60 and 55 respectively.
Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by going over specs. The visual here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and K-1.
All in all, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-30 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-1 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 24MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older E-30 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.
Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications
| Olympus E-30 | Pentax K-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Make | Olympus | Pentax |
| Model type | Olympus E-30 | Pentax K-1 |
| Type | Advanced DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
| Released | 2009-03-24 | 2016-02-17 |
| Body design | Mid-size SLR | Mid-size SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | TruePic III+ | - |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | Full frame |
| Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
| Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 861.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 36 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
| Full resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 7360 x 4912 |
| Max native ISO | 3200 | 204800 |
| Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW images | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| Autofocus continuous | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Center weighted autofocus | ||
| Multi area autofocus | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detection focus | ||
| Contract detection focus | ||
| Phase detection focus | ||
| Total focus points | 11 | 33 |
| Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
| Available lenses | 45 | 151 |
| Crop factor | 2.1 | 1 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated |
| Screen sizing | 2.7 inches | 3.2 inches |
| Screen resolution | 230 thousand dot | 1,037 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch operation | ||
| Screen technology | HyperCrystal II LCD | - |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 98% | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.56x | 0.7x |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/8000 secs |
| Continuous shooting speed | 5.0 frames/s | 4.4 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Custom white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash distance | 13.00 m | no built-in flash |
| Flash settings | Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, 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 | ||
| Maximum flash sync | 1/250 secs | 1/200 secs |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment exposure | ||
| Average exposure | ||
| Spot exposure | ||
| Partial exposure | ||
| AF area exposure | ||
| Center weighted exposure | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) |
| Max video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
| Video file format | - | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Mic input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| 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 seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 695g (1.53 lb) | 1010g (2.23 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") | 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | 55 | 96 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 21.3 | 25.4 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.4 | 14.6 |
| DXO Low light rating | 530 | 3280 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 750 photographs | 760 photographs |
| Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | BLM-1 | D-LI90 |
| Self timer | Yes (12 or 2 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Storage media | Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) |
| Storage slots | 1 | Two |
| Launch pricing | $1,299 | $1,499 |