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Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V

Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Pentax K100D front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Introduced December 2006
  • Renewed by Pentax K100D S
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX20V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX50V
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Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Pentax K100D and Sony HX30V, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the K100D (6MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the K100D (APS-C) and HX30V (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The K100D was manufactured 6 years prior to the HX30V which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the K100D grades vs the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Sony HX30V

 K100D HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Pentax K100D

 HX30V K100D 
RevealedFebruary 2012December 2006Newer by 63 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k210kClearer display (+712k dot)

Common features in the Pentax K100D and Sony HX30V

 K100D HX30V 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax K100D has physical dimensions of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

See the Pentax K100D and Sony HX30V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the K100D against the HX30V.

Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the K100D and HX30V is 64 and 90 respectively.

Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specifications. The pic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the K100D and HX30V.

Plainly, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The K100D because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony HX30V will provide extra detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged K100D will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K100D Portrait photography details
Sony HX30V Portrait photography details
51
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (6MP)
45
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K100D as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
58
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
more heavy than competition (660g)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K100D Sports photography highlights
Sony HX30V Sports photography highlights
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (6MP)
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K100D Travel photography factors
Sony HX30V Travel photography factors
42
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (660 grams)
low MP (6MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K100D
Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
52
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
low MP (6 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
50
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K100D
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
9
no video
34
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Pentax K100D vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K100D and Sony HX30V
 Pentax K100DSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K100D Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2006-12-03 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3008 x 2008 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 210k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 96 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 660 gr (1.46 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $0 $420