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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2013
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
  • Revealed October 2012
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-50
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Pentax K-30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is very comparable but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-16 iHS was announced 3 months after the K-30 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SZ-16 iHS grades versus the K-30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Pentax K-30

 SZ-16 iHS K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 K-30 SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Pentax K-30

 SZ-16 iHS K-30 
RevealedJanuary 2013October 2012Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has got exterior measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-16 iHS compared to the K-30.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and K-30 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The image below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and K-30.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but not the same sensor dimensions. The SZ-16 iHS includes the smaller sensor which should make getting bokeh harder.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
35
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography features
Pentax K-30 Street photography features
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Sports photography highlights
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography info
Pentax K-30 Travel photography info
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
weather proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery power (410 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
41
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
bad battery power (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
lighter than average in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic jack
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Pentax K-30
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPentax K-30
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Pentax K-30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-01-08 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 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 226g (0.50 pounds) 650g (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 220 shots 410 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $230 $525