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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Introduced February 2010
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Following is a detailed assessment of the Pentax K-30 and Pentax W90, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are created by Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the K-30 (16MP) and W90 (12MP) and the K-30 (APS-C) and W90 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The K-30 was announced 2 years after the W90 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summary of how the K-30 grades vs the W90 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax W90

 K-30 W90 
IntroducedOctober 2012February 2010More modern by 33 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Pentax K-30

 W90 K-30 

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax W90

 K-30 W90 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-30 enjoys 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) and the Pentax W90 has proportions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-30 and Pentax W90 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the K-30 versus the W90.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the K-30 and W90 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes just by going through technical specs. The pic here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-30 and W90.

As you have seen, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-30 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Pentax K-30 will show greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent K-30 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Portrait photography camera
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-30
Street photography with Pentax W90
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Sports photography camera
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low battery power (410 shots)
24
environment sealing
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
Pentax W90 Travel photography factors
60
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
low battery power (410 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
64
environment sealing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
MP count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography info
Pentax W90 Landscape photography info
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
low battery power (410 shots)
37
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 Vlogging info
Pentax W90 Vlogging info
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no mic support
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic socket
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax W90
 Pentax K-30Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-30 Pentax Optio W90
Category Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Introduced 2012-10-29 2010-02-24
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 surface area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
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
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 650g (1.43 lb) 164g (0.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 pictures -
Type 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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $525 $120