Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax K-30

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 & Pentax K-30. The full galleries are available at Panasonic LX5 Gallery & Pentax K-30 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.