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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax K-3 Mark III front
Portability
58
Imaging
71
Features
86
Overall
77

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Pentax K-3 III
(Full Review)
  • 26MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600000
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 820g - 135 x 104 x 74mm
  • Revealed March 2021
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and K-3 III (26MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and K-3 III (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was manufactured 13 years prior to the K-3 III and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-30 grades against the K-3 III in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax K-3 III

 E-30 K-3 III 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 III over the Olympus E-30

 K-3 III E-30 
RevealedMarch 2021March 2009Fresher by 146 months
Screen size3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1620k230kClearer screen (+1390k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-3 III

 E-30 K-3 III 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 provides outer measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 III has dimensions of 135mm x 104mm x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") having a weight of 820 grams (1.81 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-30 against the K-3 III.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and K-3 III is 60 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and K-3 III.

Clearly, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-30 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-3 III will render more detail due to its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 III Portrait photography advice
59
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
82
manual focus
MP count high (26 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography details
Pentax K-3 III Street photography details
72
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
70
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
weather proof
great ISO range (1,600,000)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Sports photography camera
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (750 shots)
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count high (26MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
low battery power (800 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 III Travel photography details
49
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (750 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
64
weather proof
supports bluetooth
includes touch to focus
MP count high (26 megapixels)
low battery power (800 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 III
52
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (750 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count high (26MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (1,600,000)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
low battery power (800 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Vlogging camera
18
can't record video
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has mic support
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-3 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-3 III
 Olympus E-30Pentax K-3 Mark III
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-30 Pentax K-3 Mark III
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-03-24 2021-03-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23 x 15.5mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 356.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 26MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 6192 x 4128
Max native ISO 3200 1600000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 101
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 156
Crop factor 2.1 1.6
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 1,620k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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, Auto + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow- speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 820 gr (1.81 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 135 x 104 x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 images 800 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1)
Card slots Single Two
Cost at launch $1,299 $1,999