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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax Optio WS80 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
20
Overall
27

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed October 2012
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-50
Pentax WS80
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-175mm (F3.8-4.7) lens
  • 125g - 92 x 60 x 22mm
  • Announced August 2009
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Pentax K-30 and Pentax WS80, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are offered by Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the K-30 (16MP) and WS80 (10MP) and the K-30 (APS-C) and WS80 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The K-30 was announced 3 years later than the WS80 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax WS80 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the K-30 matches up vs the WS80 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax WS80

 K-30 WS80 
AnnouncedOctober 2012August 2009More recent by 40 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WS80 over the Pentax K-30

 WS80 K-30 

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax WS80

 K-30 WS80 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-30 has outer measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) while the Pentax WS80 has measurements of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-30 and Pentax WS80 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the K-30 and the WS80.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-30 and WS80 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The visual here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-30 and WS80.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The K-30 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Pentax K-30 will provide more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The younger K-30 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WS80 Portrait photography advice
74
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
26
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-30 Street photography info
Pentax WS80 Street photography info
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
59
weather proof
lighter than competition (125 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 Sports photography info
Pentax WS80 Sports photography info
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
low battery life (410 shots)
23
weather proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WS80 as a Travel photography camera
60
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery life (410 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
61
lighter than competition (125 grams)
weather proof
has built in flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography details
Pentax WS80 Landscape photography details
73
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
low battery life (410 CIPA)
31
has manual focus
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 Vlogging factors
Pentax WS80 Vlogging factors
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone port
25
lighter than competition (125g)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax WS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax WS80
 Pentax K-30Pentax Optio WS80
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-30 Pentax Optio WS80
Category Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Revealed 2012-10-29 2009-08-05
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-175mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.8-4.7
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.40 m
Flash settings 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 metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 650 gr (1.43 lb) 125 gr (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 92 x 60 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9")
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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $525 $220