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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Announced March 2009
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-30 was announced 5 years before the MX-1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-30 matches up versus the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-30 MX-1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-30

 MX-1 E-30 
LaunchedJuly 2013March 2009More recent by 52 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax MX-1

 E-30 MX-1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 provides exterior measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") and a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-30 and the MX-1.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and MX-1 is 60 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The visual below will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and MX-1.

Plainly, both the cameras have the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-30 comes with the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult. The older E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography factors
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
42
manual focus
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography info
Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
72
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
65
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
sensor is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography info
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography info
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (750 per charge)
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
49
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery (750 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
61
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (391 grams)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
52
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery (750 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
55
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (290 per charge)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
18
no video shooting
33
rather wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic support
heavier than competition in class (391 grams)
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus E-30Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax MX-1
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-03-24 2013-07-01
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 12.00 m
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, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695g (1.53 pounds) 391g (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 49
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.3
DXO Low light score 530 208
Other
Battery life 750 shots 290 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 D-Li-106
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/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $1,299 $400