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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(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
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 III was revealed 7 years after the K-30 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-M5 III matches up against the K-30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Pentax K-30

 E-M5 III K-30 
AnnouncedOctober 2019October 2012More modern by 85 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 K-30 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-30

 E-M5 III K-30 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 III has got external dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 III and the K-30.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and K-30 is 80 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by viewing a spec sheet. The picture here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and K-30.

Clearly, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 III with its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Olympus E-M5 III will result in greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography features
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography features
77
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Street photography highlights
83
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
weather sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography features
Pentax K-30 Sports photography features
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (310 CIPA)
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
77
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery pack (310 CIPA)
60
weather proof
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
bad battery life (410 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography highlights
77
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
terrible battery pack (310 CIPA)
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
bad battery life (410 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
84
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
high video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes mic port
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-30
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPentax K-30
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Pentax K-30
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2019-10-17 2012-10-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Prime M
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 121 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - 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 0.68x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 30.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 414 gr (0.91 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 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 310 pictures 410 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $1,199 $525