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Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
86
Imaging
35
Features
61
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic LX7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-90mm (F1.4-2.3) lens
  • 298g - 111 x 68 x 46mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LX5
  • Refreshed by Panasonic LX10
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise 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
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Panasonic LX7 versus Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the LX7 (10MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the LX7 (1/1.7") and K-30 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The LX7 was announced about the same time to the K-30 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LX7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the LX7 grades against the K-30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX7 over the Pentax K-30

 LX7 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic LX7

 K-30 LX7 
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX7 and Pentax K-30

 LX7 K-30 
RevealedOctober 2012October 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LX7 features outer measurements of 111mm x 68mm x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic LX7 versus 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 differ based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the LX7 vs the K-30.

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the LX7 and K-30 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the LX7 and K-30.

As you can see, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The LX7 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-30 will deliver greater detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LX7
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
45
manual focus
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX7 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
58
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (298 grams)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LX7
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery (330 CIPA)
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX7 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
64
better than average battery (330 CIPA)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.4)
more heavy than competitors (298g)
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
low battery pack (410 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX7 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography advice
57
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.4)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (330 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
low battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX7 Vlogging features
Pentax K-30 Vlogging features
33
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.4)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (298 grams)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
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Panasonic LX7 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX7 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7Pentax K-30
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 Pentax K-30
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-10-15 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-90mm (3.8x) -
Highest aperture f/1.4-2.3 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD 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
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 11.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 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 format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 298g (0.66 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 68 x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 79
DXO Color Depth rating 20.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 13.0
DXO Low light rating 147 1129
Other
Battery life 330 images 410 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $525