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Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus FE-5020 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Additionally referred to as X-935
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise 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
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the FE-5020 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the FE-5020 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The FE-5020 was announced 4 years before the K-30 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the FE-5020 matches up versus the K-30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Pentax K-30

 FE-5020 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus FE-5020

 K-30 FE-5020 
AnnouncedOctober 2012July 2009Newer by 39 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Pentax K-30

 FE-5020 K-30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus FE-5020 offers outer dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the FE-5020 and the K-30.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FE-5020 and K-30 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions simply by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FE-5020 and K-30.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FE-5020 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-30 will result in extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged FE-5020 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography highlights
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
74
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Street photography information
Pentax K-30 Street photography information
60
environment sealing
lighter than average in class (137g)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Sports photography details
Pentax K-30 Sports photography details
24
environment sealing
max shutter speed is low (1/500 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than average in class (137 grams)
environment sealing
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
60
weather proofing
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus FE-5020
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
31
really wide (24mm)
environment sealing
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
terrible battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Vlogging info
Pentax K-30 Vlogging info
28
really wide (24mm)
lighter than average in class (137 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic port
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5020 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus FE-5020Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus FE-5020 Pentax K-30
Also called as X-935 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-07-22 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.10 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 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 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 137g (0.30 pounds) 650g (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1129
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $160 $525