Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30
89 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49


63 Imaging
57 Features
66 Overall
60
Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM1 & Pentax K-30. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery & Pentax K-30 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | October 2012 | ![]() | November 2011 | More modern by 11 months |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 460k | Crisper display (+461k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-30
E-PM1 | K-30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial exact focusing | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PM1 | Pentax 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 |