Clicky

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Launched March 2009
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Introduced February 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-30 and Pentax W90, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and W90 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor size.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The E-30 was brought out 11 months prior to the W90 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-30 grades vs the W90 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax W90

 E-30 W90 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Olympus E-30

 W90 E-30 
IntroducedFebruary 2010March 2009Fresher by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax W90

 E-30 W90 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen size
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 comes with outside dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has proportions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 and Pentax W90 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-30 versus the W90.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and W90 is 60 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and W90.

Clearly, both cameras have the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-30 provides the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult. The older E-30 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Portrait photography camera
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
27
manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography factors
Pentax W90 Street photography factors
72
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
54
weather proof
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography advice
Pentax W90 Sports photography advice
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (750 CIPA)
24
weather proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography details
Pentax W90 Travel photography details
49
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery power (750 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
64
weather proof
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Pentax W90 Landscape photography advice
52
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (750 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
37
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging info
Pentax W90 Vlogging info
18
no video
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax W90
 Olympus E-30Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax Optio W90
Class Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Launched 2009-03-24 2010-02-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
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 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 pounds) 164 gr (0.36 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,299 $120