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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Introduced February 2020
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Replacement is Pentax K-50
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Below is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax K-30, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 III was brought out 7 years later than the K-30 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-M1 III grades versus the K-30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Pentax K-30

 E-M1 III K-30 
IntroducedFebruary 2020October 2012More recent by 89 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 K-30 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax K-30

 E-M1 III K-30 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 III has exterior measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) while 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).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax K-30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 III vs the K-30.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and K-30 is 67 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The visual below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 III and K-30.

All in all, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 III due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus E-M1 III will deliver extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 III will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography info
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography info
77
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
78
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Sports photography information
Pentax K-30 Sports photography information
81
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
79
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
includes focus via touch
good MP (20MP)
selfie friendly display
60
environment proofing
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
bad battery pack (410 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography advice
81
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
two card slots
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 III
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
great video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone socket
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax K-30
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIPentax K-30
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Pentax K-30
Type Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2020-02-11 2012-10-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic IX Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 11
Cross type focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 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 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580 gr (1.28 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 420 pictures 410 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 1
Retail pricing $1,800 $525