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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M1 versus Pentax K-30, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was announced 13 months after the K-30 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-M1 matches up against the K-30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

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

 E-M1 K-30 
LaunchedOctober 2013October 2012More modern by 13 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 K-30 E-M1 

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

 E-M1 K-30 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 comes with outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 versus Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-M1 against the K-30.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and K-30 is 71 and 63 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out technical specs. The picture below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and K-30.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The E-M1 features the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field more challenging. The younger E-M1 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Pentax K-30
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
environment proof
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Sports photography highlights
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery power (350 per charge)
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Pentax K-30 Travel photography information
65
lighter than others in class (497g)
environment proof
boasts touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
not so great battery power (350 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
weather proof
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography factors
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
not so great battery power (350 shots)
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
36
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic socket
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax K-30
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-10-28 2012-10-29
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII 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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Flash Auto, 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
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 650 grams (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 13.0
DXO Low light rating 757 1129
Other
Battery life 350 images 410 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-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 SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $799 $525