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Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 II front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Replaced the Pentax K-3
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
  • Launched October 2012
  • Replacement is Pentax K-50
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Pentax K-3 II and Pentax K-30, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both of them are designed by Pentax. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-3 II (24MP) and K-30 (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-3 II was released 2 years later than the K-30 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the K-3 II scores vs the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Pentax K-30

 K-3 II K-30 
LaunchedApril 2015October 2012More recent by 31 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax K-3 II

 K-30 K-3 II 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 II and Pentax K-30

 K-3 II K-30 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-3 II provides outside measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-3 II and Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the K-3 II and the K-30.

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-3 II and K-30 is 59 and 63 respectively.

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The visual below will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the K-3 II and K-30.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Pentax K-3 II to result in extra detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The younger K-3 II will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 II as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
79
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 II as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (720 CIPA)
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-3 II
Travel photography with Pentax K-30
56
weather sealing
MP count good (24MP)
bad battery life (720 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (410 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography features
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography features
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
2 card slots
bad battery life (720 shots)
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
terrible battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Vlogging advice
Pentax K-30 Vlogging advice
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic jack
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Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 II and Pentax K-30
 Pentax K-3 IIPentax K-30
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-3 II Pentax K-30
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2015-04-23 2012-10-29
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime III Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 6016 x 4000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 51200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 27 11
Cross focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.3fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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 (available with dedicated external flash) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 79
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 13.0
DXO Low light score 1106 1129
Other
Battery life 720 photos 410 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Dual One
Price at release $829 $525