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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • New Model is Panasonic GX7
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
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Panasonic GX1 versus Pentax K-30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly close but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GX1 was revealed 8 months earlier than the K-30 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the GX1 scores vs the K-30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Pentax K-30

 GX1 K-30 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic GX1

 K-30 GX1 
LaunchedOctober 2012February 2012Fresher by 8 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-30

 GX1 K-30 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX1 provides external dimensions of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Panasonic GX1 versus Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the GX1 and the K-30.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX1 and K-30 is 87 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by researching technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX1 and K-30.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have the same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The GX1 provides the smaller sensor which should make getting shallow DOF trickier. The older GX1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Street photography features
Pentax K-30 Street photography features
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX1
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
47
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Travel photography info
Pentax K-30 Travel photography info
65
offers touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
bad battery power (300 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
60
environment proof
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
terrible battery power (410 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
62
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery power (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
73
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GX1
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
32
touchscreen
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone port
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Pentax K-30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-02-14 2012-10-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface 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
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
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 (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 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
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
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 318 gr (0.70 pounds) 650 gr (1.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 79
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 13.0
DXO Low light score 703 1129
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 410 pictures
Style of battery 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $228 $525