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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Released March 2009
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Launched March 2009
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax P70, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the P70 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and P70 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-30 was launched within a month of the P70 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-30 matches up vs the P70 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax P70

 E-30 P70 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Olympus E-30

 P70 E-30 

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax P70

 E-30 P70 
LaunchedMarch 2009March 2009Same age
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 enjoys external measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Pentax P70 has dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax P70 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-30 vs the P70.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and P70 is 60 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions only by going through specs. The picture underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and P70.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-30 contains the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field easier.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
27
you can focus manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Street photography camera
72
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than competition (155g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography highlights
Pentax P70 Sports photography highlights
52
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery pack (750 CIPA)
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography highlights
Pentax P70 Travel photography highlights
49
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
low battery pack (750 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
56
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (155g)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography factors
Pentax P70 Landscape photography factors
52
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (750 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
32
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging info
Pentax P70 Vlogging info
18
can't record video
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
heavier than competition (155g)
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax P70
 Olympus E-30Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax Optio P70
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2009-03-24 2009-03-02
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
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 - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lb) 155 gr (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $1,299 $200