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Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic FP8
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 96 x 60 x 20mm
  • Announced July 2009
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Launched October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Panasonic FP8 versus Pentax K-30, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the FP8 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the FP8 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The FP8 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the K-30 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the FP8 matches up against the K-30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Pentax K-30

 FP8 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic FP8

 K-30 FP8 
LaunchedOctober 2012July 2009More modern by 39 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FP8 and Pentax K-30

 FP8 K-30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FP8 offers outside measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs) while 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).

Examine the Panasonic FP8 versus Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the FP8 against the K-30.

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FP8 and K-30 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The picture below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FP8 and K-30.

All in all, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FP8 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax K-30 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged FP8 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FP8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
21
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FP8
Street photography with Pentax K-30
55
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than average in class (151g)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FP8 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
24
image stabilization (Optical)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-30 Travel photography advice
56
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (151g)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
weather sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery pack (410 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography highlights
32
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
terrible battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FP8 Vlogging information
Pentax K-30 Vlogging information
28
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (151 grams)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
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Panasonic FP8 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FP8 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8Pentax K-30
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 Pentax K-30
Type Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-07-27 2012-10-29
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine V 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 151g (0.33 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos
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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $300 $525