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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 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
  • Introduced March 2009
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Introduced August 2005
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax ist DS2, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The E-30 was unveiled 3 years later than the ist DS2 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-30 scores versus the ist DS2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax ist DS2

 E-30 ist DS2 
IntroducedMarch 2009August 2005More recent by 44 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k210kClearer display (+20k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus E-30

 ist DS2 E-30 

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax ist DS2

 E-30 ist DS2 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 has external 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) and the Pentax ist DS2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

See the Olympus E-30 versus Pentax ist DS2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-30 against the ist DS2.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and ist DS2 is 60 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and ist DS2.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-30 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Olympus E-30 will deliver greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more recent E-30 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
50
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography info
72
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (605 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Pentax ist DS2
52
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery power (750 CIPA)
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
MP count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography factors
49
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery power (750 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
52
lighter than competition in class (605 grams)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
MP count low (6 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax ist DS2 as a Landscape photography camera
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery power (750 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
46
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
MP count low (6 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging factors
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging factors
18
can't shoot video
22
lighter than competition in class (605 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great ( pixels)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus E-30Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax ist DS2
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-03-24 2005-08-22
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lb) 605 gr (1.33 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,299 -