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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • Updated by Olympus E-PM2
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax K-30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was brought out 11 months earlier than the K-30 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PM1 scores versus the K-30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax K-30

 E-PM1 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-PM1

 K-30 E-PM1 
AnnouncedOctober 2012November 2011More modern by 11 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-30

 E-PM1 K-30 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 provides physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PM1 vs the K-30.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and K-30 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The image below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and K-30.

All in all, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-30 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
74
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography information
Pentax K-30 Street photography information
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max fps low (6.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
has no phase detect autofocus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
low battery power (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Pentax K-30
45
no Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
60
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
low battery power (410 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
low battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax K-30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-11-23 2012-10-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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 AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265g (0.58 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 499 1129
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 410 photographs
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
Launch pricing $499 $525