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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 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-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-7
  • Successor is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was unveiled 21 months before the K-5 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-30 scores against the K-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax K-5

 E-30 K-5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus E-30

 K-5 E-30 
RevealedDecember 2010March 2009More recent by 21 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-5

 E-30 K-5 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 enjoys outer dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-30 and the K-5.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and K-5 is 60 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements just by going over technical specs. The photograph underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and K-5.

As you can tell, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-30 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 will deliver greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-30 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
59
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
73
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography factors
Pentax K-5 Street photography factors
72
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography details
Pentax K-5 Sports photography details
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (750 per charge)
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-5 Travel photography factors
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (750 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
65
weather proofing
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
52
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery power (750 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 Vlogging features
18
no video recording
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-5
 Olympus E-30Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-30 Pentax K-5
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-03-24 2010-12-18
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 740 gr (1.63 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 14.1
DXO Low light rating 530 1162
Other
Battery life 750 shots 980 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $1,299 $800