Clicky

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
83
Imaging
50
Features
73
Overall
59
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic LX100
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-75mm (F1.7-2.8) lens
  • 393g - 115 x 66 x 55mm
  • Announced September 2014
  • Replacement is Panasonic LX100 II
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the LX100 (13MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is very close but the LX100 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The LX100 was launched 23 months later than the K-30 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the LX100 matches up versus the K-30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX100 over the Pentax K-30

 LX100 K-30 
LaunchedSeptember 2014October 2012More recent by 23 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic LX100

 K-30 LX100 

Common features in the Panasonic LX100 and Pentax K-30

 LX100 K-30 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution921k921kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LX100 has physical dimensions of 115mm x 66mm x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") with a weight of 393 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the LX100 against the K-30.

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LX100 and K-30 is 83 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements merely by viewing specs. The photograph here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the LX100 and K-30.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The LX100 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-30 will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 3MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The more recent LX100 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography factors
70
you can focus manually
MP count decent (13 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Panasonic LX100 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
76
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Sports photography details
Pentax K-30 Sports photography details
66
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (13 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery life (410 CIPA)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-30 Travel photography advice
75
includes touch focus
MP count decent (13 megapixels)
rather wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.7)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
60
weather proofing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
bad battery life (410 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly display
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography info
73
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.7)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (13MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
bad battery life (410 CIPA)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic LX100
Vlogging with Pentax K-30
35
rather wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.7)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic jack
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
Photography Glossary

Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX100 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100Pentax K-30
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 Pentax K-30
Category Large Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2014-09-15 2012-10-29
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 13MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4112 x 3088 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 49 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-75mm (3.1x) -
Highest aperture f/1.7-2.8 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,764k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 11.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (with included external flash at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 393 grams (0.87 pounds) 650 grams (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 66 x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 67 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.3 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 13.0
DXO Low light rating 553 1129
Other
Battery life 300 images 410 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - 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 (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $800 $525