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Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
79
Imaging
38
Features
65
Overall
48
Olympus Stylus 1 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus 1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-300mm (F2.8) lens
  • 402g - 116 x 87 x 57mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus 1s
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-50
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Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus 1 and Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the 1 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the 1 (1/1.7") and K-30 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The 1 was introduced 14 months after the K-30 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the 1 matches up vs the K-30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus 1 over the Pentax K-30

 1 K-30 
IntroducedNovember 2013October 2012Newer by 14 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kClearer screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus 1

 K-30 1 

Common features in the Olympus 1 and Pentax K-30

 1 K-30 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 1 provides exterior dimensions of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") along with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus 1 and Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the 1 and the K-30.

Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 1 and K-30 is 79 and 63 respectively.

Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specs. The pic underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The 1 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-30 will give you extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern 1 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus 1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
49
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus 1
Street photography with Pentax K-30
71
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
has touch focus
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Sports photography highlights
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery life (410 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 1 Travel photography information
Pentax K-30 Travel photography information
61
better than average battery life (410 shots)
has touch focus
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
great reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography factors
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (410 CIPA)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse recording
73
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 1 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-30 Vlogging advice
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing mic support
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Olympus 1 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 1 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus Stylus 1Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus 1 Pentax K-30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-11-25 2012-10-29
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Prime M
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-300mm (10.7x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-on, off, redeye reduction slow sync, full, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p); high speed: 640 x 480 (120p), 320 x 240 (240p) 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 402 gr (0.89 pounds) 650 gr (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 116 x 87 x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 79
DXO Color Depth score 20.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 13.0
DXO Low light score 179 1129
Other
Battery life 410 pictures 410 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $700 $525