Olympus FE-4030 vs Pentax K-30

Below is a complete assessment of the Olympus FE-4030 vs Pentax K-30, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FE-4030 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is very similar but the FE-4030 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The FE-4030 was revealed 3 years prior to the K-30 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-4030 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the FE-4030 grades versus the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus FE-4030 & Pentax K-30. The full galleries are provided at Olympus FE-4030 Gallery & Pentax K-30 Gallery.

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus FE-4030 provides exterior dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Compare the Olympus FE-4030 vs Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the FE-4030 versus the K-30.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the FE-4030 and K-30 is 95 and 63 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements only by reading a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-4030 and K-30.

Clearly, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FE-4030 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-30 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older FE-4030 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.