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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(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
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • Successor is Pentax K100D S
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and K100D (6MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and K100D (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The E-30 was announced 2 years after the K100D which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-30 matches up vs the K100D in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax K100D

 E-30 K100D 
AnnouncedMarch 2009December 2006More modern by 29 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kSharper screen (+20k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Olympus E-30

 K100D E-30 

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K100D

 E-30 K100D 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 provides outer 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 K100D has proportions of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-30 compared to the K100D.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and K100D is 60 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes only by going over specs. The image below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and K100D.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-30 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Olympus E-30 will deliver greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern E-30 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography info
Pentax K100D Portrait photography info
59
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
51
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography features
Pentax K100D Street photography features
72
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
58
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
more heavy than others in class (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Pentax K100D
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery power (750 shots)
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K100D Travel photography highlights
49
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (750 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
42
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (660g)
low resolution sensor (6MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Landscape photography camera
52
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery power (750 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
52
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Pentax K100D
18
lack of video recording
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax K100D
 Olympus E-30Pentax K100D
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-30 Pentax K100D
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-03-24 2006-12-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 6MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest 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
Max video resolution None None
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695g (1.53 pounds) 660g (1.46 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
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 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $1,299 $0