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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released October 2012
  • Later Model is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K-30, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is pretty similar but the S3 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The S3 was unveiled 22 months prior to the K-30 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summation of how the S3 scores vs the K-30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Pentax K-30

 S3 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic S3

 K-30 S3 
ReleasedOctober 2012January 2011Fresher by 22 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-30

 S3 K-30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic S3 offers outside measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Panasonic S3 versus Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the S3 vs the K-30.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and K-30 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the S3 and K-30.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The S3 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-30 will offer greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots way more aggressively. The older S3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
28
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography features
Pentax K-30 Street photography features
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic S3
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
not so great battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than others (117g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
60
environment proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery power (410 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
38
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse function
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-30 Vlogging advice
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
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Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Pentax K-30
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-01-05 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 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 (30fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117g (0.26 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 250 photographs 410 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - 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 One One
Retail cost $110 $525