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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Pentax K-3
(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
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Pentax K-3 and Pentax K-30, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both of them are created by Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and K-30 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-3 was manufactured 18 months later than the K-30 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the K-3 matches up versus the K-30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 K-3 K-30 
AnnouncedApril 2014October 2012Fresher by 18 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kSharper screen (+116k dot)

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

 K-30 K-3 

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

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

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-3 provides outside dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-3 and Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the K-3 and the K-30.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

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

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

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by looking through specs. The visual underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the K-3 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Pentax K-3 to result in more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent K-3 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography factors
79
has manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
74
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-3
Street photography with Pentax K-30
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
fixed screen
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography information
Pentax K-30 Sports photography information
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery power (560 per charge)
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
60
weather proofing
good MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
bad battery power (560 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
environment proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery (410 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography info
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
two card slots
bad battery power (560 CIPA)
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging details
Pentax K-30 Vlogging details
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax K-30
 Pentax K-3Pentax K-30
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-3 Pentax K-30
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-04-10 2012-10-29
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime III Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 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
Maximum resolution 6016 x 4000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 51200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
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
Total lenses 151 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 650 grams (1.43 pounds)
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 All around score 80 79
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 13.0
DXO Low light score 1216 1129
Other
Battery life 560 photographs 410 photographs
Battery form 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 feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Dual Single
Launch cost $639 $525