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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Older Model is Pentax Q
  • Renewed by Pentax Q7
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Pentax K-30 and Pentax Q10, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are sold by Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the K-30 (16MP) and Q10 (12MP) and the K-30 (APS-C) and Q10 (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

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The K-30 was revealed 2 months later than the Q10 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the K-30 matches up versus the Q10 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Pentax Q10

 K-30 Q10 
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Pentax K-30

 Q10 K-30 

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Pentax Q10

 K-30 Q10 
LaunchedOctober 2012September 2012Same age
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-30 offers outer dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) and the Pentax Q10 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-30 and Pentax Q10 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the K-30 compared to the Q10.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-30 and Q10 is 63 and 92 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing merely by viewing specifications. The graphic below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-30 and Q10.

To sum up, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The K-30 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax K-30 will render greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Portrait photography camera
74
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
48
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-30
Street photography with Pentax Q10
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (200 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 Sports photography information
Pentax Q10 Sports photography information
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery (410 shots)
36
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (270 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography features
Pentax Q10 Travel photography features
60
environment proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery (410 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
60
lighter than average in class (200g)
has built in flash
low battery life (270 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography info
Pentax Q10 Landscape photography info
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
bad battery (410 shots)
54
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (270 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 Vlogging factors
Pentax Q10 Vlogging factors
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of mic port
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (200g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no mic support
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Pentax K-30 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Pentax Q10
 Pentax K-30Pentax Q10
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-30 Pentax Q10
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-10-29 2012-09-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime M -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 25
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Pentax Q
Total lenses 151 8
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 650g (1.43 lb) 200g (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 49
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 10.9
DXO Low light score 1129 183
Other
Battery life 410 pictures 270 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI109,4 x AA D-LI68
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $525 $350