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Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost 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
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the FS15 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The FS15 was brought out 4 years before the K-30 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the FS15 grades against the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Pentax K-30

 FS15 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic FS15

 K-30 FS15 
LaunchedOctober 2012January 2009More recent by 46 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Pentax K-30

 FS15 K-30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS15 has got outer dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the FS15 versus the K-30.

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FS15 and K-30 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading technical specs. The photograph underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS15 and K-30.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FS15 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-30 will offer more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older FS15 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography highlights
20
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
60
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
27
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic FS15 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Pentax K-30
Category Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-01-16 2012-10-29
Body design Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 29-145mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen 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
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 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 640x480 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136 gr (0.30 lbs) 650 gr (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 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 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $180 $525