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Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30

Portability
82
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 II front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 390g - 120 x 83 x 47mm
  • Announced August 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M10
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M10 III
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-50
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-M10 II (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-M10 II (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-M10 II was released 2 years after the K-30 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M10 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-M10 II grades against the K-30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 II over the Pentax K-30

 E-M10 II K-30 
LaunchedAugust 2015October 2012Newer by 35 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-M10 II

 K-30 E-M10 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 II and Pentax K-30

 E-M10 II K-30 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 II offers outside measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 390 grams (0.86 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 E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M10 II versus the K-30.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 II and K-30 is 82 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions merely by going over specs. The image underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M10 II and K-30.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with the identical megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The E-M10 II features the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more recent E-M10 II should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
72
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Street photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Street photography highlights
83
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Sports photography factors
Pentax K-30 Sports photography factors
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
terrible battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M10 II
Travel photography with Pentax K-30
73
boasts touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not contain selfie friendly screen
60
weather proofing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (410 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography highlights
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
terrible battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Vlogging info
Pentax K-30 Vlogging info
35
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing mic jack
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 II and Pentax K-30
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IIPentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Pentax K-30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2015-08-25 2012-10-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - 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 0.62x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, flash off, 1st-curtain slow sync w/redeye, 1st-curtain slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/30p/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p), 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 390 grams (0.86 lbs) 650 grams (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 83 x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 13.0
DXO Low light rating 842 1129
Other
Battery life 320 photos 410 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $499 $525