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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Replaced the Pentax Q
  • Replacement is Pentax Q7
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the Q10 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and Q10 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-30 was brought out 4 years prior to the Q10 and that is quite a big gap as far as 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 Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-30 matches up against the Q10 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax Q10

 E-30 Q10 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Olympus E-30

 Q10 E-30 
RevealedSeptember 2012March 2009More recent by 42 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax Q10

 E-30 Q10 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 comes with physical measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Pentax Q10 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-30 compared to the Q10.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and Q10 is 60 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements only by going over specs. The photograph below will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and Q10.

All in all, the 2 cameras have the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-30 provides the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF easier. The older E-30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-30
Portrait photography with Pentax Q10
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
48
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Street photography camera
72
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (200g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Pentax Q10
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery power (750 per charge)
36
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (270 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography advice
Pentax Q10 Travel photography advice
49
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery power (750 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
60
lighter than others in class (200g)
built-in flash
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Landscape photography camera
52
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery power (750 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
54
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Pentax Q10
18
lack of video recording
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (200g)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax Q10
 Olympus E-30Pentax Q10
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax Q10
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-03-24 2012-09-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Number of lenses 45 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 7.00 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, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 200 gr (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 49
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.9
DXO Low light score 530 183
Other
Battery life 750 shots 270 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $1,299 $350