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Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released October 2012
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic FH3 versus Pentax K-30, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the FH3 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is pretty close but the FH3 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The FH3 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the K-30 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the FH3 matches up vs the K-30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Pentax K-30

 FH3 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic FH3

 K-30 FH3 
ReleasedOctober 2012January 2010More modern by 34 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Pentax K-30

 FH3 K-30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FH3 provides physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has specifications 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 Panasonic FH3 versus Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the FH3 vs the K-30.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH3 and K-30 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the FH3 and K-30.

As you have seen, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FH3 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-30 will result in extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FH3 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
28
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Street photography factors
Pentax K-30 Street photography factors
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
64
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
environment sealing
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography features
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-30 Vlogging factors
29
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
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Panasonic FH3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Pentax K-30
Also called Lumix DMC-FS11 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-01-06 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - 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
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 165 grams (0.36 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 - 410 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $160 $525