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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax X90 front
Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 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 X90
(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
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax X90

 E-30 X90 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Olympus E-30

 X90 E-30 
IntroducedJuly 2010March 2009More modern by 15 months

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax X90

 E-30 X90 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kExact 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax X90 as a Portrait photography camera
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
29
you can focus manually
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Pentax X90
72
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax X90 as a Sports photography camera
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery (750 per charge)
42
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax X90 as a Travel photography camera
49
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (750 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
51
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
great reach (676mm)
no Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography information
Pentax X90 Landscape photography information
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery (750 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
35
you can focus manually
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging features
Pentax X90 Vlogging features
18
can't shoot video
23
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax X90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax X90
 Olympus E-30Pentax 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