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Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Pentax K-30

 S2 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic S2

 K-30 S2 
IntroducedOctober 2012January 2012Newer by 9 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S2 and Pentax K-30

 S2 K-30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

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

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S2 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography features
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic S2
Street photography with Pentax K-30
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (112 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S2 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Sports photography highlights
39
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
good battery (280 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic S2
Travel photography with Pentax K-30
70
good battery (280 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (112 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
60
environment proofing
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic S2
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
41
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good battery (280 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than others in class (112g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
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Panasonic S2 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S2 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 Pentax K-30
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-01-09 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 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 Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 112 gr (0.25 pounds) 650 gr (1.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 280 shots 410 shots
Type of battery 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $109 $525