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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
67
Features
76
Overall
70

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost 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
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Revealed January 2017
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both are manufactured by Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the K-30 (16MP) and KP (24MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-30 was launched 5 years prior to the KP which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the K-30 scores against the KP when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax KP

 K-30 KP 

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Pentax K-30

 KP K-30 
RevealedJanuary 2017October 2012Newer by 51 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax KP

 K-30 KP 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution921k921kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-30 provides exterior measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) and the Pentax KP has proportions of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") and a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

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

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the K-30 and the KP.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-30 and KP is 63 and 61 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The image underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the K-30 and KP.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Pentax KP to result in extra detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged K-30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
Pentax KP Portrait photography advice
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
80
focusing manually
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-30
Street photography with Pentax KP
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
screen is fixed
76
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
great high ISO (819,200)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax KP as a Sports photography camera
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/24,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proof
bad battery power (390 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography information
Pentax KP Travel photography information
60
environment proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
61
weather proof
good resolution (24MP)
built-in flash
bad battery power (390 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
Landscape photography with Pentax KP
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (819,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
bad battery power (390 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-30
Vlogging with Pentax KP
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone socket
34
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone support
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax KP
 Pentax K-30Pentax KP
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-30 Pentax KP
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-10-29 2017-01-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime M PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 819200
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.63x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/6000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/24000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (60i, 30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 650g (1.43 lb) 703g (1.55 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1129 not tested
Other
Battery life 410 shots 390 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI109,4 x AA D-LI109
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $525 $747