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Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78
Pentax K-1 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-1 II
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-50
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Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Pentax K-1 versus Pentax K-30, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras and both of them are designed by Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the K-1 (36MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the K-1 (Full frame) and K-30 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The K-1 was launched 3 years later than the K-30 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the K-1 matches up versus the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Pentax K-30

 K-1 K-30 
ReleasedFebruary 2016October 2012More recent by 41 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kSharper screen (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax K-1

 K-30 K-1 

Common features in the Pentax K-1 and Pentax K-30

 K-1 K-30 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-1 offers outer measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-1 versus Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the K-1 versus the K-30.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the K-1 and K-30 is 55 and 63 respectively.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the K-1 and K-30.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The K-1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Pentax K-1 will give you greater detail utilizing its extra 20MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more recent K-1 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography factors
85
you can focus manually
great megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
74
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-1 Street photography information
Pentax K-30 Street photography information
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
above average high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than average (1,010 grams)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-1 Sports photography details
Pentax K-30 Sports photography details
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames/s)
low battery life (760 per charge)
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
53
weather proof
great megapixels (36 megapixels)
low battery life (760 CIPA)
more heavy than average (1,010 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
60
environment sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery (410 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
81
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
low battery life (760 shots)
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery (410 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than average (1,010g)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone jack
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Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-1 and Pentax K-30
 Pentax K-1Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-1 Pentax K-30
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2016-02-17 2012-10-29
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 36MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 7360 x 4912 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 204800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 33 11
Cross focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 151 151
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.4 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 Built-in Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1010 gr (2.23 pounds) 650 gr (1.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 96 79
DXO Color Depth score 25.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 14.6 13.0
DXO Low light score 3280 1129
Other
Battery life 760 photographs 410 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Dual Single
Launch pricing $1,499 $525