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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus SH-2
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase 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 SH-3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax K-30, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is very comparable but the SH-3 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The SH-3 was launched 3 years later than the K-30 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SH-3 scores versus the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Pentax K-30

 SH-3 K-30 
ReleasedFebruary 2016October 2012Fresher by 40 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus SH-3

 K-30 SH-3 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-30

 SH-3 K-30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 has outside dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax K-30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the SH-3 versus the K-30.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and K-30 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing just by seeing specs. The visual underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-3 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got the exact same resolution but different sensor sizing. The SH-3 contains the smaller sensor which will make obtaining bokeh more difficult. The fresher SH-3 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography features
44
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
no manual focus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
74
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-30 Street photography advice
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
lighter than competitors (271 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery (380 per charge)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
74
good battery (380 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (271 grams)
features focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
60
weather proofing
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery (410 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
55
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
saves RAW files
good battery (380 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging features
Pentax K-30 Vlogging features
35
relatively wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competitors (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax K-30
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax K-30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2016-02-08 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Prime M
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - 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
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 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 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 380 photos 410 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $579 $525