Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90
60 Imaging
46 Features
54 Overall
49


69 Imaging
35 Features
34 Overall
34
Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Key Specs
(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
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 6400
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
- 428g - 111 x 85 x 110mm
- Introduced July 2010

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Overview
Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the X90 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and X90 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

The E-30 was released 15 months before the X90 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.
Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-30 matches up against the X90 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-30 & Pentax X90. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-30 Gallery & Pentax X90 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax X90
E-30 | X90 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Olympus E-30
X90 | E-30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | July 2010 | ![]() | March 2009 | More modern by 15 months |
Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax X90
E-30 | X90 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very accurate focusing | ||
Screen size | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.7" | Same screen measurements |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Exact same screen resolution |
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither has Touch friendly screen |
Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Physical Comparison
If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 has outer dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Pentax X90 has dimensions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs).
Look at the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-30 versus the X90.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and X90 is 60 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking specs. The picture below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and X90.
As you can plainly see, the two cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-30 has the bigger sensor which will make getting bokeh easier. The more aged E-30 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Specifications
Olympus E-30 | Pentax X90 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Pentax |
Model type | Olympus E-30 | Pentax X90 |
Class | Advanced DSLR | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Released | 2009-03-24 | 2010-07-06 |
Body design | Mid-size SLR | SLR-like (bridge) |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | TruePic III+ | Prime |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
Anti alias 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 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 80 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | 11 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | - | 26-676mm (26.0x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/2.8-5.0 |
Macro focusing range | - | 1cm |
Total lenses | 45 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 2.7 inch | 2.7 inch |
Screen resolution | 230k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen technology | HyperCrystal II LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic |
Viewfinder coverage | 98 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.56x | - |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60s | 4s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shooting speed | 5.0 frames per sec | - |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 13.00 m | 9.10 m |
Flash settings | Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off | - |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum 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 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) |
Max video resolution | None | 1280x720 |
Video data format | - | Motion JPEG |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 695 grams (1.53 pounds) | 428 grams (0.94 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") | 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 55 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.3 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.4 | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | 530 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 750 shots | - |
Battery format | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | BLM-1 | D-L106 |
Self timer | Yes (12 or 2 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card | SD/SDHC, Internal |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Launch pricing | $1,299 | $350 |