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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Released December 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic LX3
  • New Model is Panasonic LX7
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the LX5 (10MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the LX5 (1/1.63") and K-30 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The LX5 was revealed 10 months before the K-30 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the LX5 grades versus the K-30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Pentax K-30

 LX5 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic LX5

 K-30 LX5 
AnnouncedOctober 2012December 2011Newer by 10 months
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-30

 LX5 K-30 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX5 enjoys external dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the LX5 vs the K-30.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LX5 and K-30 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The pic here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the LX5 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The LX5 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-30 will produce extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged LX5 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography details
41
focusing manually
supports RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LX5
Street photography with Pentax K-30
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/1.63")
heavier than average in class (271g)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LX5
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
has no phase detect auto focus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Travel photography features
Pentax K-30 Travel photography features
59
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than average in class (271g)
MP count low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
60
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery pack (410 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography details
52
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-30 Vlogging advice
29
relatively wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than average in class (271 grams)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX5 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Pentax K-30
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-12-15 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-90mm (3.8x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-3.3 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 4.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 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 Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.20 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
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 41 79
DXO Color Depth rating 19.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 13.0
DXO Low light rating 132 1129
Other
Battery life - 410 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $294 $525