Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30

The following is a thorough comparison of the Panasonic S2 versus Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the S2 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is relatively similar but the S2 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The S2 was manufactured 9 months earlier than the K-30 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the S2 grades against the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 and Pentax K-30. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic S2 Gallery and Pentax K-30 Gallery.

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S2 offers physical dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic S2 versus Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the S2 against the K-30.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the S2 and K-30 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing technical specs. The pic below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the S2 and K-30.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The S2 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-30 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged S2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.