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Pentax K-3 III vs Pentax K-30

Portability
58
Imaging
72
Features
86
Overall
77
Pentax K-3 Mark III front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

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

Pentax K-3 III
(Full Review)
  • 26MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600000
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 820g - 135 x 104 x 74mm
  • Launched March 2021
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Replacement is Pentax K-50
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-3 III vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Pentax K-3 III versus Pentax K-30, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras and both are manufactured by Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the K-3 III (26MP) and K-30 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The K-3 III was brought out 8 years after the K-30 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the K-3 III matches up against the K-30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 K-3 III K-30 
IntroducedMarch 2021October 2012More modern by 103 months
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1620k921kSharper display (+699k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 K-30 K-3 III 

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

 K-3 III K-30 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

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

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-3 III has got exterior measurements of 135mm x 104mm x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") having a weight of 820 grams (1.81 lbs) and 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-3 III versus Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the K-3 III vs the K-30.

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

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the K-3 III and K-30 is 58 and 63 respectively.

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

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

Generally, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by looking at specs. The pic below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the K-3 III and K-30.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Pentax K-3 III to give you greater detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The fresher K-3 III is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 III Portrait photography features
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography features
83
focusing manually
megapixel count high (26 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-3 III
Street photography with Pentax K-30
71
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
features focus by touch
environment sealing
very good high ISO (1,600,000)
fixed screen
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 III Sports photography factors
Pentax K-30 Sports photography factors
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count high (26MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
bad battery pack (800 shots)
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 III Travel photography info
Pentax K-30 Travel photography info
64
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
features focus by touch
megapixel count high (26MP)
bad battery pack (800 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
60
weather proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery (410 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 III Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography factors
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count high (26MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
very good high ISO (1,600,000)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
bad battery pack (800 shots)
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
low battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 III Vlogging features
Pentax K-30 Vlogging features
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone port
does not have selfie friendly screen
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
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Pentax K-3 III vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 III and Pentax K-30
 Pentax K-3 Mark IIIPentax K-30
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-3 Mark III Pentax K-30
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2021-03-31 2012-10-29
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23 x 15.5mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 356.5mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 26 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 6192 x 4128 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600000 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 101 11
Cross focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 156 151
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,620k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow- speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 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 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 820 gr (1.81 lbs) 650 gr (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 135 x 104 x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") 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 800 shots 410 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Dual 1
Retail price $1,999 $525