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Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30

Portability
54
Imaging
61
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1X front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1X
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 997g - 144 x 147 x 75mm
  • Announced January 2019
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
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
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Replacement is Pentax K-50
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Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1X (20MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-M1X (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1X was announced 6 years after the K-30 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1X being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-M1X grades against the K-30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1X over the Pentax K-30

 E-M1X K-30 
IntroducedJanuary 2019October 2012Newer by 76 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k921kSharper display (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-M1X

 K-30 E-M1X 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1X and Pentax K-30

 E-M1X K-30 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement

Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1X provides outside measurements of 144mm x 147mm x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 997 grams (2.20 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M1X compared to the K-30.

Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1X and K-30 is 54 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specifications. The picture here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1X and K-30.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1X having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Olympus E-M1X will result in extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The more modern E-M1X is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography highlights
76
manual focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1X as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
67
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (25,600)
heavier than competition (997 grams)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1X
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
80
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
great battery pack (870 per charge)
has phase detect autofocus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Travel photography info
Pentax K-30 Travel photography info
68
great battery pack (870 shots)
weather proof
has bluetooth
includes focus by touch
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (997g)
60
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery (410 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1X
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
great battery pack (870 CIPA)
2 card slots
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
not so great battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1X as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
68
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has mic support
heavier than competition (997 grams)
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1X and Pentax K-30
 Olympus OM-D E-M1XPentax K-30
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1X Pentax K-30
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2019-01-24 2012-10-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic VIII Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 121 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
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
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 PCM 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 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes (USB-PD allows charging by laptop or external power bank) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 997 gr (2.20 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 144 x 147 x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 870 pictures 410 pictures
Type of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 1
Cost at launch $2,999 $525