Panasonic FZ80 vs Pentax K-30

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Panasonic FZ80 and Pentax K-30, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FZ80 (18MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is very comparable but the FZ80 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The FZ80 was manufactured 4 years later than the K-30 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the FZ80 matches up versus the K-30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 and Pentax K-30. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic FZ80 Gallery and Pentax K-30 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ80 has got outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") with a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FZ80 and Pentax K-30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the FZ80 against the K-30.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the FZ80 and K-30 is 63 and 63 respectively.

Usually, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ80 and K-30.

Clearly, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FZ80 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Panasonic FZ80 will produce extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The fresher FZ80 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.