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Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
17
Overall
28
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic FP2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2010
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Panasonic FP2 and Pentax K-30, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FP2 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is very comparable but the FP2 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The FP2 was brought out 3 years prior to the K-30 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FP2 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the FP2 matches up against the K-30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP2 over the Pentax K-30

 FP2 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic FP2

 K-30 FP2 
IntroducedOctober 2012January 2010Fresher by 34 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP2 and Pentax K-30

 FP2 K-30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FP2 offers external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FP2 and Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the FP2 and the K-30.

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FP2 and K-30 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FP2 and K-30.

All in all, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FP2 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-30 will provide greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older FP2 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography features
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (151g)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FP2
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
slow fps (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP2 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Travel photography highlights
56
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (151 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
environment proof
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP2
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
32
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competition in class (151 grams)
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
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Panasonic FP2 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP2 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 Pentax K-30
Category Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2010-01-06 2012-10-29
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine IV Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 10cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.90 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 151g (0.33 pounds) 650g (1.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") 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 style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $80 $525