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Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase 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
  • New Model is Pentax K-50
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced June 2010
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Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Pentax K-30 and Sony H55, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the K-30 (16MP) and the H55 (14MP) is pretty close but the K-30 (APS-C) and H55 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The K-30 was revealed 2 years later than the H55 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony H55 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a brief summation of how the K-30 matches up vs the H55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Sony H55

 K-30 H55 
AnnouncedOctober 2012June 2010More recent by 29 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Pentax K-30

 H55 K-30 

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Sony H55

 K-30 H55 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-30 offers exterior dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) and the Sony H55 has proportions of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-30 and Sony H55 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the K-30 against the H55.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-30 and H55 is 63 and 92 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing specs. The photograph here may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-30 and H55.

All in all, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The K-30 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Pentax K-30 will render extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more modern K-30 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony H55 as a Portrait photography camera
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
28
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
Sony H55 as a Street photography camera
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
screen does not articulate
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony H55 as a Sports photography camera
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-30
Travel photography with Sony H55
60
weather proof
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
67
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography details
Sony H55 Landscape photography details
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery pack (410 per charge)
42
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony H55 as a Vlogging camera
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
28
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
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Pentax K-30 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Sony H55
 Pentax K-30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-10-29 2010-06-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Prime M Bionz
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 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
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
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 650 gr (1.43 pounds) 200 gr (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI109,4 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $525 $235