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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2016
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-30, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was manufactured 3 years later than the K-30 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a short view of how the PEN-F matches up vs the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Pentax K-30

 PEN-F K-30 
ReleasedJanuary 2016October 2012Fresher by 40 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus PEN-F

 K-30 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-30

 PEN-F K-30 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F enjoys outside measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the PEN-F compared to the K-30.

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and K-30 is 84 and 63 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing just by going through technical specs. The photograph here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the PEN-F and K-30.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The PEN-F due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Olympus PEN-F will show extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more recent PEN-F provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography information
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography information
75
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
84
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography features
Pentax K-30 Sports photography features
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
not so great battery life (330 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography advice
Pentax K-30 Travel photography advice
75
offers focus via touch
good megapixels (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (330 per charge)
60
weather proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
76
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
not so great battery life (330 CIPA)
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging factors
Pentax K-30 Vlogging factors
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-30
 Olympus PEN-FPentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN-F Pentax K-30
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2016-01-27 2012-10-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 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
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 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 data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lbs) 650 grams (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 74 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.0
DXO Low light rating 894 1129
Other
Battery life 330 images 410 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $1,000 $525