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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL9
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max 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-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is relatively close but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was manufactured 3 years after the K-30 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PL8 matches up against the K-30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax K-30

 E-PL8 K-30 
LaunchedSeptember 2016October 2012Newer by 48 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-PL8

 K-30 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-30

 E-PL8 K-30 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 enjoys outside dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL8 versus the K-30.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and K-30 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing a spec sheet. The picture here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and K-30.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 contains the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder. The fresher E-PL8 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
73
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
74
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
low battery power (410 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
72
features touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
60
environment proof
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery power (410 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
80
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
low battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
Pentax K-30 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax K-30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2016-09-19 2012-10-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - 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
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 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 file format H.264, Motion JPEG 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357g (0.79 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 350 photos 410 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $500 $525