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Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Launched October 2012
  • Later Model is Pentax K-50
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • New Model is Sony RX100 II
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Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Pentax K-30 and Sony RX100, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-30 (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is very comparable but the K-30 (APS-C) and RX100 (1") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The K-30 was revealed 3 months later than the RX100 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the K-30 matches up versus the RX100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Sony RX100

 K-30 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Pentax K-30

 RX100 K-30 
Display resolution1229k921kClearer display (+308k dot)

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Sony RX100

 K-30 RX100 
ReleasedOctober 2012August 2012Same age
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-30 offers outside dimensions 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 Sony RX100 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-30 and Sony RX100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the K-30 against the RX100.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the K-30 and RX100 is 63 and 91 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The photograph here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-30 and RX100.

All in all, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The K-30 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony RX100 will produce greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX100 Portrait photography factors
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
64
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-30 Street photography info
Sony RX100 Street photography info
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
no articulating screen
79
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (240g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Sports photography camera
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery pack (410 shots)
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
provides tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 Travel photography highlights
60
weather proofing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
79
lighter than competition (240g)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX100 Landscape photography highlights
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
74
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 Vlogging features
Sony RX100 Vlogging features
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of mic socket
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (240 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no external microphone port
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Pentax K-30 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Sony RX100
 Pentax K-30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-10-29 2012-08-28
Body design Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime M -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 25
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/2000 secs
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 650 grams (1.43 pounds) 240 grams (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 66
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 12.4
DXO Low light score 1129 390
Other
Battery life 410 images 330 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI109,4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $525 $448