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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • Later Model is Pentax K-50
Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Pentax K-30 versus Pentax H90, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both offered by Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the K-30 (16MP) and H90 (12MP) and the K-30 (APS-C) and H90 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The K-30 was unveiled 2 years later than the H90 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax H90 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the K-30 scores against the H90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax H90

 K-30 H90 
RevealedOctober 2012January 2010More recent by 34 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Pentax K-30

 H90 K-30 

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax H90

 K-30 H90 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-30 offers exterior 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) while the Pentax H90 has dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-30 versus Pentax H90 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the K-30 vs the H90.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-30 and H90 is 63 and 93 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through specs. The visual here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-30 and H90.

All in all, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The K-30 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax K-30 will produce more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The fresher K-30 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography info
Pentax H90 Portrait photography info
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax K-30 Street photography info
Pentax H90 Street photography info
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
no articulating screen
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-30
Sports photography with Pentax H90
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
bad battery life (410 per charge)
31
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
Pentax H90 Travel photography factors
60
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery life (410 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
57
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography info
Pentax H90 Landscape photography info
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
bad battery life (410 CIPA)
36
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 Vlogging advice
Pentax H90 Vlogging advice
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone port
28
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax H90
 Pentax K-30Pentax Optio H90
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-30 Pentax Optio H90
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-10-29 2010-01-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime M Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 650 gr (1.43 pounds) 153 gr (0.34 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 1129 not tested
Other
Battery life 410 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI109,4 x AA D-LI68
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $525 $150