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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL7
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise 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
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL6 versus Pentax K-30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is very well matched but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL6 was announced 22 months after the K-30 making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-PL6 matches up against the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Pentax K-30

 E-PL6 K-30 
LaunchedAugust 2014October 2012Newer by 22 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-PL6

 K-30 E-PL6 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax K-30

 E-PL6 K-30 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL6 features outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and 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).

Look at the Olympus E-PL6 versus Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL6 vs the K-30.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL6 and K-30 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by checking technical specs. The pic here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL6 and K-30.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras come with the identical resolution but different sensor dimensions. The E-PL6 uses the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more recent E-PL6 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography factors
Pentax K-30 Street photography factors
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography features
Pentax K-30 Sports photography features
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography information
Pentax K-30 Travel photography information
85
offers touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
60
weather sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery life (410 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography features
80
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
bad battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL6
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
79
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Pentax K-30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-08-01 2012-10-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Physical 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 score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 360 shots 410 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $300 $525