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Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic FX90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 102 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced August 2011
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed October 2012
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the FX90 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the FX90 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FX90 was introduced 14 months prior to the K-30 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FX90 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the FX90 grades against the K-30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX90 over the Pentax K-30

 FX90 K-30 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic FX90

 K-30 FX90 
RevealedOctober 2012August 2011Newer by 14 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX90 and Pentax K-30

 FX90 K-30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FX90 features outside dimensions of 102mm x 56mm x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the FX90 versus the K-30.

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the FX90 and K-30 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by going over technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FX90 and K-30.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FX90 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-30 will offer more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged FX90 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX90 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX90 Street photography info
Pentax K-30 Street photography info
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX90 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-30 Sports photography factors
30
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
not so great battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX90 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
60
provides focus by touch
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
60
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX90 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography advice
36
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX90 Vlogging details
Pentax K-30 Vlogging details
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
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Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX90 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 Pentax K-30
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-08-26 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD 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 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.90 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 149 gr (0.33 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 102 x 56 x 22mm (4.0" 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 200 images 410 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $227 $525