Panasonic SZ5 vs Pentax K-30

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax K-30, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ5 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ5 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ5 was released 3 months earlier than the K-30 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the SZ5 matches up against the K-30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 & Pentax K-30. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic SZ5 Gallery & Pentax K-30 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ5 has exterior dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ5 versus Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SZ5 and the K-30.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ5 and K-30 is 95 and 63 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The visual below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ5 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ5 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-30 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos way more aggressively.