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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Launched March 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH3
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase 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
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The GH2 was revealed 19 months before the K-30 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the GH2 grades vs the K-30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Pentax K-30

 GH2 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 GH2

 K-30 GH2 
LaunchedOctober 2012March 2011More recent by 19 months
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-30

 GH2 K-30 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GH2 has exterior measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the GH2 vs the K-30.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the GH2 and K-30 is 70 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through specs. The visual here may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GH2 and K-30.

All in all, each of the cameras have got the exact same MP but different sensor measurements. The GH2 includes the tinier sensor which should make obtaining bokeh more difficult. The older GH2 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography details
70
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH2
Street photography with Pentax K-30
68
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-30 Sports photography advice
46
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (330 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
slow fps (6.0 fps)
low battery power (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
62
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (330 CIPA)
60
weather sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery power (410 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography advice
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (330 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
low battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-30 Vlogging factors
71
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
provides face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic jack
lack of image stabilization
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone support
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Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Pentax K-30
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-03-23 2012-10-29
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
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
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen 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 coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 15.60 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442g (0.97 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 60 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 13.0
DXO Low light score 655 1129
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 410 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $1,000 $525