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Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2010
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise 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
  • Replacement is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

The following is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic FP3 and Pentax K-30, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the FP3 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the FP3 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FP3 was revealed 3 years prior to the K-30 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise summary of how the FP3 scores versus the K-30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Pentax K-30

 FP3 K-30 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic FP3

 K-30 FP3 
ReleasedOctober 2012January 2010Newer by 34 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP3 and Pentax K-30

 FP3 K-30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FP3 offers physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FP3 and Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the FP3 vs the K-30.

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the FP3 and K-30 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out specifications. The picture here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FP3 and K-30.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FP3 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-30 will provide extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged FP3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography factors
28
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Street photography info
Pentax K-30 Street photography info
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competitors (155 grams)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Sports photography highlights
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Travel photography details
Pentax K-30 Travel photography details
60
provides focus by touch
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (155g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery (410 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FP3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
37
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
73
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP3 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-30 Vlogging advice
27
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (155 grams)
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
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Panasonic FP3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP3 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 Pentax K-30
Type Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2010-01-06 2012-10-29
Body design Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV 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 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing 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 data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.90 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155 grams (0.34 pounds) 650 grams (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 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 - 410 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $182 $525