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Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
93
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Revealed January 2015
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Launched October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic SZ10 versus Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ10 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ10 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The SZ10 was launched 2 years after the K-30 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ10 matches up against the K-30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Pentax K-30

 SZ10 K-30 
LaunchedJanuary 2015October 2012More modern by 27 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic SZ10

 K-30 SZ10 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ10 and Pentax K-30

 SZ10 K-30 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ10 provides outer measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ10 versus Pentax K-30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ10 against the K-30.

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ10 and K-30 is 93 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking a spec sheet. The picture here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ10 and K-30.

Clearly, both of those cameras have the same megapixels but different sensor sizes. The SZ10 includes the tinier sensor which should make getting shallow DOF tougher. The newer SZ10 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ10 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
36
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ10
Street photography with Pentax K-30
70
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (177g)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ10 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-30 Sports photography factors
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
max fps low (1.4 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
bad battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ10 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competition (177 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (288mm)
missing Timelapse function
low battery life (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
60
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery (410 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ10
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
42
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery life (200 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
bad battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ10 Vlogging information
Pentax K-30 Vlogging information
32
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than competition (177 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
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Panasonic SZ10 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ10 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 Pentax K-30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-01-06 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-288mm (12.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-6.3 -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.4 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.20 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 177 gr (0.39 lbs) 650 gr (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") 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 200 images 410 images
Type of battery 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $200 $525