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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax Optio E70 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 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 E70
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.4" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-105mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 175g - 94 x 61 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 Overview

Following is a extended review of the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax E70, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the E70 (10MP) is fairly similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and E70 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was unveiled 3 months after the E70 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax E70 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-30 scores versus the E70 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax E70

 E-30 E70 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing2.7"2.4"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution230k112kClearer display (+118k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax E70 over the Olympus E-30

 E70 E-30 

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax E70

 E-30 E70 
AnnouncedMarch 2009January 2009Similar generation
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 features 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) and the Pentax E70 has proportions of 94mm x 61mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.0") with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax E70 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-30 compared to the E70.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and E70 is 60 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to see the difference between sensor sizes only by reading a spec sheet. The pic underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and E70.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-30 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-30 will deliver greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography information
Pentax E70 Portrait photography information
59
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
19
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax E70 as a Street photography camera
72
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography information
Pentax E70 Sports photography information
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (750 per charge)
16
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography info
Pentax E70 Travel photography info
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (750 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
50
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography info
Pentax E70 Landscape photography info
52
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (750 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
22
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.4 inch)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging info
Pentax E70 Vlogging info
18
no video recording
22
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax E70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax E70
 Olympus E-30Pentax Optio E70
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax Optio E70
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-03-24 2009-01-05
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-105mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 10cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.4"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 112 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lb) 175 gr (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 94 x 61 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $1,299 $140