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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Successor is Panasonic GH5
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GH4 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly similar but the GH4 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GH4 was brought out 16 months after the K-30 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the GH4 scores against the K-30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Pentax K-30

 GH4 K-30 
RevealedFebruary 2014October 2012More modern by 16 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1036k921kClearer display (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic GH4

 K-30 GH4 

Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-30

 GH4 K-30 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH4 comes with outside measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the GH4 compared to the K-30.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GH4 and K-30 is 66 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over technical specs. The image here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GH4 and K-30.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizes. The GH4 has got the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field more challenging. The more modern GH4 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH4
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
71
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Street photography features
Pentax K-30 Street photography features
71
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes touch to focus
weather proof
lighter than average in class (560 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-30 Sports photography advice
62
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Travel photography info
Pentax K-30 Travel photography info
77
lighter than average in class (560g)
weather proof
includes touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
60
weather sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
not so great battery power (410 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
does not have image stabilization
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
71
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone support
lighter than average in class (560 grams)
does not have image stabilization
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic GH4 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Pentax K-30
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2014-02-07 2012-10-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IX 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 49 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,036k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech OLED TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 17.00 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p) 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 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 grams (1.23 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 74 79
DXO Color Depth score 23.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 13.0
DXO Low light score 791 1129
Other
Battery life 500 shots 410 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLF19 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $1,500 $525