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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
68
Features
76
Overall
71

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP 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
  • Announced March 2009
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Launched January 2017
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax KP, both Advanced DSLR cameras by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and KP (24MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and KP (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-30 was announced 8 years before the KP which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-30 matches up versus the KP in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax KP

 E-30 KP 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Olympus E-30

 KP E-30 
LaunchedJanuary 2017March 2009More modern by 95 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax KP

 E-30 KP 
Manually focus More precise focus
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 provides external dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Pentax KP has sizing of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") with a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax KP in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-30 compared to the KP.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and KP is 60 and 61 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by researching specs. The pic underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and KP.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-30 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax KP will provide you with greater detail with its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography details
Pentax KP Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
80
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax KP as a Street photography camera
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
76
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
very good ISO range (819,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography advice
Pentax KP Sports photography advice
52
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 CIPA)
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
quiet shutter (1/24,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
low battery power (390 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography highlights
Pentax KP Travel photography highlights
49
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (750 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
62
environment proofing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
low battery power (390 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax KP 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)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (819,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
low battery power (390 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Pentax KP
18
no video shooting
35
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic port
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax KP
 Olympus E-30Pentax KP
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-30 Pentax KP
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-03-24 2017-01-26
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 819200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.63x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/24000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 703 gr (1.55 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
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 photos 390 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $1,299 $747