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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Announced March 2009
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-30
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax K-50, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-30 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the K-50 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-30 matches up vs the K-50 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax K-50

 E-30 K-50 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-30

 K-50 E-30 
RevealedNovember 2013March 2009More modern by 56 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-50

 E-30 K-50 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 features exterior measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Pentax K-50 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax K-50 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-30 against the K-50.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and K-50 is 60 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The pic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and K-50.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-30 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-50 will offer you greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-30 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Portrait photography camera
59
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
74
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography information
Pentax K-50 Street photography information
72
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
above average ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
more heavy than others in class (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-50 Sports photography advice
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery (750 shots)
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-50 Travel photography factors
49
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery (750 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
56
weather proof
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
more heavy than others in class (650 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography advice
52
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (750 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
18
lack of video recording
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (650 grams)
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus E-30Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax K-50
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-03-24 2013-11-27
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 12.00 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, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695g (1.53 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 13.0
DXO Low light score 530 1120
Other
Battery life 750 photos 410 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $1,299 $610