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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic GX8
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 487g - 133 x 78 x 63mm
  • Released July 2015
  • Older Model is Panasonic GX7
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
  • Revealed October 2012
  • Updated by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic GX8 versus Pentax K-30, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the GX8 (20MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the GX8 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The GX8 was launched 2 years later than the K-30 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the GX8 grades versus the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Pentax K-30

 GX8 K-30 
RevealedJuly 2015October 2012Fresher by 33 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic GX8

 K-30 GX8 

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-30

 GX8 K-30 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX8 has got outer measurements of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") and a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GX8 versus Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the GX8 vs the K-30.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GX8 and K-30 is 74 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing merely by going over specs. The graphic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GX8 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GX8 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic GX8 will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent GX8 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
75
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
80
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides touch focus
environment sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
not so great battery (330 per charge)
no phase detect AF
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low battery life (410 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
73
environment sealing
provides touch focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery (330 CIPA)
60
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery life (410 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography factors
76
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery (330 shots)
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery life (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-30 Vlogging advice
81
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Pentax K-30
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2015-07-16 2012-10-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 49 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total 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 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 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 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 487 grams (1.07 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 133 x 78 x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 75 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 13.0
DXO Low light rating 806 1129
Other
Battery life 330 photos 410 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $898 $525