Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the Q (12MP) is very close but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and Q (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-30 was revealed 3 years prior to the Q and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-30 grades versus the Q in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-30 and Pentax Q. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-30 Gallery and Pentax Q Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 has got external dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Pentax Q has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") along with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

See the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-30 vs the Q.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and Q is 60 and 93 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements merely by looking through technical specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and Q.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide the same MP but not the same sensor measurements. The E-30 provides the larger sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF easier. The older E-30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.