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Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-145 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus VG-145
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Replacement is Pentax K-50
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Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus VG-145 and Pentax K-30, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VG-145 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the VG-145 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The VG-145 was unveiled 15 months prior to the K-30 which makes them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the VG-145 scores versus the K-30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-145 over the Pentax K-30

 VG-145 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus VG-145

 K-30 VG-145 
AnnouncedOctober 2012July 2011More modern by 15 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-145 and Pentax K-30

 VG-145 K-30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-145 features outer measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-145 and Pentax K-30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the VG-145 compared to the K-30.

Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VG-145 and K-30 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through a spec sheet. The pic underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-145 and K-30.

As you can see, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The VG-145 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-30 will resolve extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged VG-145 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-145
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Street photography factors
Pentax K-30 Street photography factors
48
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-145 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
26
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (160 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-145
Travel photography with Pentax K-30
62
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low battery power (160 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
environment proof
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery pack (410 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography features
36
pretty wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery power (160 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Vlogging details
Pentax K-30 Vlogging details
28
pretty wide (26mm)
includes face detection autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-145 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus VG-145Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VG-145 Pentax K-30
Class Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-07-27 2012-10-29
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Prime M
Sensor type CCD 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 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.40 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
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 120g (0.26 pounds) 650g (1.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 160 pictures 410 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $0 $525