Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30
96 Imaging
37 Features
24 Overall
31


63 Imaging
57 Features
66 Overall
60
Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 & Pentax K-30. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic S3 Gallery & Pentax K-30 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | October 2012 | ![]() | January 2011 | Fresher by 22 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial precise focus | ||
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Pentax K-30
S3 | K-30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 | Pentax 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 |