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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise 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
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-50
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released October 2009
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-5
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Pentax K-30 and Pentax K-7, both Advanced DSLR cameras and they are both designed by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the K-30 (16MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is pretty close and they come with the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-30 was released 3 years later than the K-7 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick summary of how the K-30 matches up against the K-7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax K-7

 K-30 K-7 
ReleasedOctober 2012October 2009More recent by 38 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Pentax K-30

 K-7 K-30 

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax K-7

 K-30 K-7 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution921k921kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-30 comes with exterior dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) while the Pentax K-7 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-30 and Pentax K-7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the K-30 vs the K-7.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-30 and K-7 is 63 and 60 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing specifications. The graphic here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-30 and K-7.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Pentax K-30 to provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The fresher K-30 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Portrait photography camera
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
72
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Street photography camera
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
no moving screen
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 Sports photography information
Pentax K-7 Sports photography information
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery pack (410 shots)
69
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography info
Pentax K-7 Travel photography info
60
weather sealing
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
77
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-7 Vlogging highlights
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic port
25
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax K-7
 Pentax K-30Pentax K-7
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-30 Pentax K-7
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-10-29 2009-10-02
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Prime M Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 12800 2000
Max enhanced ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 151 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 650g (1.43 pounds) 750g (1.65 pounds)
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 score 79 61
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 10.6
DXO Low light score 1129 536
Other
Battery life 410 photos 980 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI109,4 x AA D-LI90
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $525 $599