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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2010
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P3
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Released October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus E-P2 and Pentax K-30, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P2 was launched 3 years prior to the K-30 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-P2 scores against the K-30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Pentax K-30

 E-P2 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-P2

 K-30 E-P2 
ReleasedOctober 2012April 2010More modern by 30 months
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Pentax K-30

 E-P2 K-30 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-P2 features outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has specifications 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-P2 and Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-P2 against the K-30.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and K-30 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The image underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P2 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P2 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-30 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged E-P2 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P2
Street photography with Pentax K-30
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-30 Sports photography advice
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
low battery (410 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P2
Travel photography with Pentax K-30
43
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (300 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
weather sealing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery (410 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
low battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus PEN E-P2Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Pentax K-30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2010-04-22 2012-10-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 650 gr (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 13.0
DXO Low light score 505 1129
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 410 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch price $799 $525