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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-30

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

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

Olympus E-M10 III
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 410g - 122 x 84 x 50mm
  • Announced August 2017
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M10 II
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M10 IV
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost 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-M10 III vs Pentax K-30 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-M10 III versus Pentax K-30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-M10 III (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

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The E-M10 III was introduced 4 years later than the K-30 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-M10 III grades vs the K-30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-M10 III K-30 
LaunchedAugust 2017October 2012Fresher by 59 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 III

 K-30 E-M10 III 

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

 E-M10 III K-30 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

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

When you are aiming to carry your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M10 III comes with exterior measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M10 III versus Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M10 III against the K-30.

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

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 III and K-30 is 80 and 63 respectively.

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

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

Quite often, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 III and K-30.

As you can see, each of these cameras provide the same megapixels but different sensor sizing. The E-M10 III includes the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field tougher. The younger E-M10 III should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
73
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Street photography information
Pentax K-30 Street photography information
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than others in class (410 grams)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Sports photography info
Pentax K-30 Sports photography info
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Travel photography factors
Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
67
includes focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
more heavy than others in class (410g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
60
weather proofing
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
terrible battery (410 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M10 III
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
terrible battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-30 Vlogging highlights
32
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (410g)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic support
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax K-30
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIPentax K-30
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Pentax K-30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2017-08-31 2012-10-29
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.80 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, 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)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410 gr (0.90 pounds) 650 gr (1.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 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 330 photos 410 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $650 $525