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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched March 2011
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Later Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The SZ-30MR was announced 4 years prior to the K-3 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SZ-30MR scores against the K-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Pentax K-3

 SZ-30MR K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 K-3 SZ-30MR 
IntroducedApril 2014March 2011Newer by 37 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-3

 SZ-30MR K-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR features outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has proportions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the K-3.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and K-3 is 89 and 59 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading technical specs. The pic below should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and K-3.

As you have seen, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-30MR with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will deliver more detail with its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
79
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
Pentax K-3 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
very good high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography features
Pentax K-3 Sports photography features
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery pack (220 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
bad battery (560 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery pack (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
has double storage slots
bad battery (560 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging features
Pentax K-3 Vlogging features
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no mic socket
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-3
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax K-3
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax K-3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-03-02 2014-04-10
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 220 images 560 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Two
Launch pricing $279 $639