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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
82
Imaging
60
Features
80
Overall
68
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Introduced February 2018
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand 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
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Panasonic GX9 versus Pentax K-30, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the GX9 (20MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the GX9 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The GX9 was launched 5 years later than the K-30 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the GX9 matches up versus the K-30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Pentax K-30

 GX9 K-30 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018October 2012More recent by 65 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1240k921kClearer display (+319k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic GX9

 K-30 GX9 

Common features in the Panasonic GX9 and Pentax K-30

 GX9 K-30 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GX9 offers physical dimensions of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has specifications 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 the Panasonic GX9 versus Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the GX9 versus the K-30.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GX9 and K-30 is 82 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through technical specs. The photograph below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GX9 and K-30.

As you can tell, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GX9 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic GX9 will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The fresher GX9 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography details
76
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Street photography details
Pentax K-30 Street photography details
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX9
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
72
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery (260 CIPA)
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Travel photography features
Pentax K-30 Travel photography features
71
has bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery (260 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
60
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography information
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (260 per charge)
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
terrible battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Vlogging information
Pentax K-30 Vlogging information
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no microphone port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
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Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX9 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Pentax K-30
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2018-02-13 2012-10-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 49 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,240k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,760k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 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 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 407 grams (0.90 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") 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 260 shots 410 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $1,000 $525