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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras and both of them are offered by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the K-30 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-30 was announced 7 months prior to the K-5 IIs and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the K-30 matches up against the K-5 IIs when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 K-30 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Pentax K-30

 K-5 IIs K-30 
LaunchedJune 2013October 2012Newer by 7 months

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 K-30 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution921k921kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-30 offers external dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 IIs has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the K-30 and the K-5 IIs.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the K-30 and K-5 IIs is 63 and 60 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through specs. The picture underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-30 and K-5 IIs.

All in all, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact megapixels and you should expect similar quality of images but you would want to consider the release date of the products into consideration. The more aged K-30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography factors
74
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-30
Street photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
no moving screen
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-30
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography information
60
weather proof
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
65
weather sealing
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging factors
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone support
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Pentax K-30Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-30 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-10-29 2013-06-04
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Prime M Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 650 grams (1.43 lb) 760 grams (1.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 82
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 14.1
DXO Low light rating 1129 1208
Other
Battery life 410 pictures 980 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI109,4 x AA D-LI90
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $525 $749