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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF7
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum 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 GF8 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Below is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF8 was launched 3 years later than the K-30 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the GF8 matches up versus the K-30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Pentax K-30

 GF8 K-30 
RevealedFebruary 2016October 2012More recent by 41 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic GF8

 K-30 GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-30

 GF8 K-30 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF8 enjoys outside dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the GF8 against the K-30.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF8 and K-30 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements simply by seeing specifications. The photograph here should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF8 and K-30.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The GF8 offers the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging. The fresher GF8 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
65
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Street photography highlights
80
screen tilts
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-30 Sports photography factors
49
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/500 seconds)
max fps low (5.8 fps)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (230 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography information
Pentax K-30 Travel photography information
66
includes focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (230 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
environment proof
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF8
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (230 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
bad battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-30 Vlogging factors
33
touchscreen functionality
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Pentax K-30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2016-02-15 2012-10-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine 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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/500 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 5.8fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 266g (0.59 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 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 230 shots 410 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $549 $525