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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-PL5 versus Pentax K-30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was brought out at a similar time to the K-30 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL5 scores vs the K-30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax K-30

 E-PL5 K-30 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-PL5

 K-30 E-PL5 
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-30

 E-PL5 K-30 
LaunchedSeptember 2012October 2012Same age
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with exterior dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL5 versus Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the K-30.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and K-30 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching specs. The visual underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses the exact same resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL5 uses the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
71
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography information
Pentax K-30 Sports photography information
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery life (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography information
Pentax K-30 Travel photography information
75
comes with touch focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse function
60
weather proofing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery life (410 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging information
Pentax K-30 Vlogging information
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of mic support
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax K-30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-09-17 2012-10-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 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
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 325 grams (0.72 pounds) 650 grams (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 889 1129
Other
Battery life 360 images 410 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $400 $525