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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF2
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the GF1 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the GF1 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The GF1 was revealed 4 years earlier than the K-30 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the GF1 matches up vs the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Pentax K-30

 GF1 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic GF1

 K-30 GF1 
AnnouncedOctober 2012October 2009More recent by 37 months
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-30

 GF1 K-30 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF1 comes with outside measurements of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the GF1 versus the K-30.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the GF1 and K-30 is 85 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The visual underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GF1 and K-30.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GF1 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-30 will give you more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older GF1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Street photography factors
Pentax K-30 Street photography factors
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-30 Sports photography factors
44
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
has no phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
not so great battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-30 Travel photography advice
59
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
60
weather proofing
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery (410 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (380 shots)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lack of Timelapse function
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
25
has face detect focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
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Panasonic GF1 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Pentax K-30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-10-14 2012-10-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle 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 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385 gr (0.85 lbs) 650 gr (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.0
DXO Low light score 513 1129
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 410 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $400 $525