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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-30

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-30 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
  • Introduced March 2011
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Updated by Pentax K-50
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-30MR was revealed 20 months prior to the K-30 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SZ-30MR matches up vs the K-30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 SZ-30MR K-30 

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

 K-30 SZ-30MR 
AnnouncedOctober 2012March 2011Newer by 20 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

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

 SZ-30MR K-30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

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

When you are looking to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR vs the K-30.

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

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and K-30 is 89 and 63 respectively.

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

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

Often, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through specs. The picture underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and K-30.

All in all, the two cameras provide the same MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The SZ-30MR comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult. The more aged SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography factors
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography advice
Pentax K-30 Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
environment proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
low battery (410 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography features
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography features
41
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
low battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing mic port
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-30
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax K-30
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax K-30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-03-02 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest 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 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" 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 photos 410 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $279 $525