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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Launched June 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Updated by Pentax K-50
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-30, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was revealed 5 years earlier than the K-30 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-420 scores vs the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax K-30

 E-420 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-420

 K-30 E-420 
AnnouncedOctober 2012June 2008More recent by 52 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-30

 E-420 K-30 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 has exterior measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-420 versus the K-30.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and K-30 is 77 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through technical specs. The visual underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and K-30.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-420 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-30 will produce greater detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The older E-420 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-420
Street photography with Pentax K-30
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others (426 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography information
Pentax K-30 Sports photography information
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
not so great battery life (500 shots)
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than others (426g)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
60
environment proof
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery (410 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
47
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
not so great battery life (500 shots)
no Time Lapse function
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-30 Vlogging highlights
9
can't record video
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus E-420Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-420 Pentax K-30
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2008-06-23 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.0
DXO Low light rating 527 1129
Other
Battery life 500 shots 410 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $999 $525