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Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
72
Imaging
47
Features
60
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic G2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 428g - 124 x 84 x 74mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G1
  • New Model is Panasonic G3
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum 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 G2 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic G2 and Pentax K-30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the G2 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the G2 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The G2 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the K-30 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the G2 grades against the K-30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G2 over the Pentax K-30

 G2 K-30 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic G2

 K-30 G2 
LaunchedOctober 2012July 2010Fresher by 28 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G2 and Pentax K-30

 G2 K-30 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G2 enjoys outer measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9") and a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic G2 and Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the G2 vs the K-30.

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the G2 and K-30 is 72 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the G2 and K-30.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The G2 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-30 will provide extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The older G2 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G2 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic G2
Street photography with Pentax K-30
65
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features touch to focus
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others in class (428g)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic G2
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
low battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G2 Travel photography features
Pentax K-30 Travel photography features
58
features touch to focus
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (428 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
60
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery power (410 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic G2
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
57
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic G2
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
61
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
provides face detect focus
comes with mic port
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
heavier than others in class (428 grams)
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
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Panasonic G2 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G2 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Pentax K-30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-07-12 2012-10-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 data format AVCHD Lite, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 428 grams (0.94 pounds) 650 grams (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 53 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 493 1129
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 410 photographs
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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $1,000 $525