Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30: A Detailed Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

In the ever-evolving universe of digital cameras, 2012 brought us two compelling models bearing quite different philosophies: the Olympus PEN E-PL5, an entry-level mirrorless camera, and the Pentax K-30, a robust mid-size DSLR aimed at advanced users. Though released just weeks apart, they stand as snapshots of competing priorities in camera design - compactness and portability versus durability and DSLR ergonomics.

Having spent countless hours testing both cameras through studio setups, outdoor shoots, and real-world workflows, I’ll walk you through an in-depth head-to-head evaluation. We’ll look beyond marketing specs to how they truly perform in various photography genres, their technical makeup, and ultimately who should consider each. Pull up a chair - there’s plenty to unpack here.

First Impressions: Handling and Ergonomics in Day-to-Day Use

Before diving into cores of sensor tech or shooting modes, the visceral feel of a camera matters immensely. The E-PL5 and K-30 couldn’t be more different physically.

Olympus E-PL5: A Shapely Rangefinder-Styled Mirrorless

The E-PL5 is a compact rangefinder-style mirrorless body that fits easily into one hand or a jacket pocket. It measures 111x64x38 mm and weighs a mere 325 grams, including battery. Its minimalist design is quite sleek for a 2012-era camera, and the tilting 3" touchscreen invites flexible composition from high or low angles.

The Micro Four Thirds lens mount with a 2.1x crop factor endorses small, lightweight lenses to match the body’s portability. This alignment makes it a good candidate for travel photographers or street shooters prioritizing discretion.

Pentax K-30: Sturdy Mid-Size DSLR for Serious Grip

On the other hand, the K-30’s DSLR form is decidedly more substantial: 130x97x71 mm and 650 grams, roughly double the weight of the Olympus. This heft comes from its sealed body designed to resist dust and moisture - vital for outdoor and rugged use. The pentaprism optical viewfinder offers 100% coverage, a boon for precise framing favored by seasoned shooters.

The K-30 sports a deeper grip and more physical controls, tailored for users accustomed to traditional DSLR handling.

To visualize these size and design contrasts:

Summary: The Olympus E-PL5 emphasizes portability and modern, touch-based framing, ideal for light travel and casual work. The Pentax K-30 offers DSLR bulk and durability for photographers who value a confident grip and weather sealing.

Top-Down Design: Controls and Interface at a Glance

Comfortable handling extends to how intuitively a camera’s physical controls and menus respond under pressure.

Looking from above:

The Pentax K-30 sports clearly labeled dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and drive modes. Its buttons have a slightly firmer click and a more tactile feel, reflecting its user base - enthusiasts who prefer manual tweaking on the fly.

The Olympus E-PL5, meanwhile, leans into minimalism. Exposure compensation can be accessed with a dial, but other settings often require navigating the touchscreen interface. This can feel less fastidious under fast-paced conditions but benefits casual shooting environments.

Takeaway: If you thrive on physical dials and robust button ergonomics, the K-30 wins hands down. For more casual or street photographers who prefer screen-touch interactions, the E-PL5's layout suffices.

Sensor Design and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At the core of photographic quality is the sensor. The Olympus E-PL5 features a 16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13 mm), while the Pentax K-30 boasts an APS-C CMOS sensor of the same 16MP resolution but larger dimensions (23.7 x 15.7 mm).

Here’s a visual to connect sensor size and relative image quality expectations:

Sensor Size Implications

The size difference means the K-30 has roughly 1.65x the sensor area, permitting larger photosites per pixel, which typically yields better low-light noise performance and dynamic range. Indeed, DxOMark scores back this, with the K-30 rated higher overall (79 versus 72) with gains particularly in color depth and dynamic range.

This larger sensor contributes to richer color reproduction and more subtle tonal gradations, which many portrait and landscape shooters require. Conversely, the smaller Four Thirds sensor enables a compact camera body and lenses but comes at some compromise in high ISO noise and depth-of-field control.

Image Quality in Practice

• Portraits: The Pentax APS-C sensor’s better dynamic range and color fidelity deliver skin tones with more nuanced transitions. The Olympus can still produce pleasing results but sometimes requires more post-processing to manage shadows and highlights.

• Landscapes: The Pentax’s higher dynamic range assists in retaining detail in skies and shadows, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Olympus is competent but less forgiving when recovery is needed.

• High ISO & Low Light: Though the Olympus E-PL5 pushes to ISO 25600, noise artifacts appear more prominently above ISO 1600. The K-30 handles up to ISO 12800 natively with noticeably cleaner results.

In sum, the Pentax sensor is the more versatile imaging platform for professionals or advanced hobbyists demanding top image fidelity.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking Capabilities

Autofocus is mission-critical whether capturing fast-moving subjects or nail-biting portraits.

Olympus E-PL5 Autofocus

The E-PL5 uses contrast-detection autofocus with 35 focus points. It supports touch-AF, face detection, and offers 8fps continuous shooting - a respectable speed for its category.

While competent for static subjects, contrast detection typically lags behind phase-detection when following erratic motion, occasionally leading to hunting in low contrast or low light. Eye and face detection work well for portraits, thanks to touchscreen AF area selection.

Pentax K-30 Autofocus

With 11 AF points, 9 cross-type sensors, and phase-detection capability, the K-30’s system is designed for active tracking and fast acquisition under varied lighting. It features center-weighted AF selection that benefits spontaneous off-center subjects and a 6fps burst to chase action.

In field tests photographing birds in flight and local soccer matches, the Pentax’s AF was more reliable at locking and maintaining focus on urgent moving targets.

Summary: For wildlife, sports, and action shooters, the K-30’s AF system is a significant advantage. The Olympus is adequate for portrait, street, and casual shooting but less ideal for demanding motion capture.

Environmental Resilience and Build Quality

Weather sealing is an often overlooked yet crucial feature for outdoor photographers.

Olympus PEN E-PL5

The E-PL5 does not offer any environmental sealing. It’s vulnerable to moisture, dust, and temperature extremes, requiring users to exercise caution when shooting outdoors in harsh conditions.

Pentax K-30

The K-30 incorporates extensive weather sealing and solid build materials. It withstands dust and light rain, making it trustworthy during hikes, outdoor weddings, or field expeditions. This ruggedness is a hallmark of Pentax DSLRs and adds to the camera’s appeal for professionals frequently shooting in the wild.

Viewing Experience: LCD Screens and Viewfinders

Accurate framing and image review depend on solid display technology.

The Olympus E-PL5 tilting 3" touchscreen with 460k dots supports intuitive finger interactions - zooming, AF point shift, and menu navigation become natural. This is a boon for street photographers preferring a low profile and travel shooters using variable angles.

The Pentax K-30 has a fixed 3" TFT LCD with higher 921k dot resolution, delivering sharper image review but lacks touchscreen capabilities. Being a DSLR, the K-30's strong optical pentaprism viewfinder offers lifelike real-time framing with full coverage (100%) and 0.61x magnification, which the Olympus only achieves if an external EVF is attached.

Verdict: The Olympus screen encourages flexibility; the Pentax optical viewfinder provides a more traditional and arguably more reliable shooting experience.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras use mature mounts with extensive lens lineups.

• Olympus E-PL5: Micro Four Thirds mount with over 100 native lenses available from Olympus, Panasonic, and third parties. Due to the crop factor, focal lengths double in 35mm equivalent, effectively giving telephoto reach with smaller lenses. The mirrorless MFT system’s compact lenses complement the portable body.

• Pentax K-30: Pentax KAF2 mount has access to 151 lenses, including legacy glass with adapters, encompassing everything from fast primes, macro lenses, to robust telephoto zooms. The APS-C format provides a versatile balance, with a 1.5x crop factor.

For specialized photography (macro, wildlife tele, etc.), Pentax offers more rugged, professional-oriented optics; the Olympus shines with compact walkaround lenses.

Battery Life and Storage

Both cameras use proprietary battery packs but with differing endurance.

• Olympus E-PL5: Rated for ~360 shots per charge. While not exceptional, it’s sufficient for casual outings. USB charging capabilities are limited.

• Pentax K-30: Rated ~410 shots per charge or can run from 4x AA batteries - a helpful option if traveling to remote areas without power access.

Both cameras use a single SD slot supporting SDXC cards.

Video Capabilities: What to Expect in Moving Images

Video is increasingly important across photography.

• Olympus E-PL5: Offers Full HD (1920x1080) at 30fps using H.264/MPEG4 codecs, with straightforward movie recording and on-screen controls. No external mic input limits audio quality, and stabilization helps keep handheld footage steady. No 4K or advanced video features here.

• Pentax K-30: Also records Full HD (1080p) but can capture 720p at up to 60fps, allowing smoother slow-motion clips. However, it lacks mic or headphone jacks, and stabilization is sensor-based, less refined than dedicated video bodies.

Both cameras are adequate for casual or supplemental video work but don’t compete with hybrid or cinema-focused models.

Specialty Photography Disciplines: Strengths and Weaknesses

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-PL5: Good at face and eye detection, elevated skin tone rendering with Micro Four Thirds lenses creating respectable bokeh.
• Pentax K-30: Larger sensor permits superior background separation and natural skin tones with larger apertures at lower f-stops.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus: Limited by dynamic range but lighter body and ease of using wide-angle MFT lenses.
• Pentax: Better dynamic range and weather sealing make it the landscape pro’s pick.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Olympus: Compact and high burst rate (8fps), but slower AF and lens reach.
• Pentax: Superior AF tracking, rugged build, and access to long telephotos make it more reliable with fast subjects.

Street Photography

• Olympus: Small form factor, touchscreen AF, and silent shutter mode (up to 1/4000s) are advantages.
• Pentax: Bulkier and noisier DSLR shutter may draw attention.

Macro Photography

• Olympus: Versatile MFT macro lenses, sensor stabilization aid close focusing.
• Pentax: Strong native macro glass, but heavier setup.

Night & Astrophotography

• Olympus: Smaller sensor noise at high ISO is a limitation.
• Pentax: Better controlled noise beyond ISO 1600 benefits astro enthusiasts.

Travel Photography

• Olympus: Light and portable - ideal.
• Pentax: Bulkier but more durable, versatile when weather sealing matters.

Sample Images: Visual Evidence of Capabilities

Let’s take a look at side-by-side photos from both cameras showcasing portraits, landscapes, and street shots under various conditions:

Olympus E PL5 front Olympus E PL5 screen back Pentax K 30 front Pentax K 30 screen back

Notice the finer detail and richer color depth in the Pentax photos, especially in shadows and highlights, while the Olympus images impress with clarity and compact-camera convenience.

Overall Performance Ratings

On DXOMark and my own testing metrics, here are overall performance scores factoring image quality, autofocus, and handling:

The Pentax K-30 consistently scores higher across the board, primarily due to sensor size, autofocus, and build quality advantages.

Performance by Photography Genre

Diving deeper into genre performance reveals strengths exactly where you need them:

• Portrait and landscape see substantial advantage for Pentax.
• Street and travel tilt towards Olympus for ease and speed.
• Sports and wildlife lean Pentax thanks to autofocus reliability.

Connectivity and Interface Features

The Olympus features Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility but lacks Bluetooth or NFC. HDMI output is supported for external monitors. The Pentax K-30 does not offer built-in wireless; GPS is optional via accessory, and it lacks HDMI.

While neither camera is wireless powerhouse material, Olympus edges a bit ahead for casual sharing.

Price-to-Performance: What Are You Really Paying For?

Currently priced at about $400 for the Olympus E-PL5 and $525 for the Pentax K-30, the difference is modest considering Pentax’s more robust build, better sensor, and superior AF system.

For budget-conscious buyers focused on portability and casual use, the Olympus remains a strong value proposition. For advanced photographers or those needing durability and image quality, the Pentax justifies its extra cost.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Choose Which?

The Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Pentax K-30 both shine within their niches but serve markedly different photographer archetypes.

This duo illustrates how camera design caters to different priorities: the E-PL5’s mirrorless compactness versus the K-30’s DSLR resilience and performance.

In Closing

With over 15 years of hands-on testing throughout a spectrum of cameras, I can confidently say both the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-30 uphold respectable legacies. Your choice hinges largely on shooting style, genre, and environment.

Ultimately, neither camera is better in every respect but each excels in its targeted arena. I encourage you to weigh the above insights alongside your needs, lens preferences, and shooting habits.

Should you want a lighter, touchscreen-driven camera for everyday and travel use, the Olympus is a smart pick. If ruggedness, faster autofocus, and superior sensor performance for demanding photography are your priorities, the Pentax is worth the investment.

May your next camera bring you many joy-filled frames.

Thanks for reading this in-depth comparison! Feel free to share your experiences or questions on these classic models below.