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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
Photography Glossary

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-30, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ7 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly close but the SZ7 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The SZ7 was brought out 9 months earlier than the K-30 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SZ7 scores versus the K-30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Pentax K-30

 SZ7 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic SZ7

 K-30 SZ7 
ReleasedOctober 2012January 2012More recent by 9 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-30

 SZ7 K-30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ7 offers physical measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ7 vs the K-30.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ7 and K-30 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements just by viewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ7 and K-30.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ7 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-30 will result in extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The older SZ7 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography info
33
MP count decent (14MP)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (133 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography information
Pentax K-30 Sports photography information
43
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-30 Travel photography advice
70
lighter than competition in class (133g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
60
environment proofing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery life (410 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery life (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging info
Pentax K-30 Vlogging info
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (133g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing mic socket
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic socket
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Panasonic SZ7 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ7 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 Pentax K-30
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-01-09 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime M
Sensor type CMOS 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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
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
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 133 grams (0.29 lbs) 650 grams (1.43 lbs)
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 Overall 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 220 photographs 410 photographs
Form 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 feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $199 $525