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Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43
Pentax Q7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax Q10
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
Photography Glossary

Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Pentax Q7 and Sony QX30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Lens-style by rivals Pentax and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the Q7 (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the Q7 (1/1.7") and QX30 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The Q7 was revealed 13 months before the QX30 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the Q7 grades versus the QX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Sony QX30

 Q7 QX30 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display sizing3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution460k0kSharper display (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Pentax Q7

 QX30 Q7 
LaunchedSeptember 2014August 2013Newer by 13 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax Q7 and Sony QX30

 Q7 QX30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax Q7 comes with exterior measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony QX30 has dimensions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax Q7 and Sony QX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the Q7 and the QX30.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Q7 and QX30 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by looking through technical specs. The picture below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the Q7 and QX30.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The Q7 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony QX30 will render more detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged Q7 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax Q7 Portrait photography information
Sony QX30 Portrait photography information
48
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
38
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q7 Street photography highlights
Sony QX30 Street photography highlights
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
lighter than average (200 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
62
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q7 as a Sports photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Sports photography camera
32
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking focus
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery power (250 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q7 Travel photography features
Sony QX30 Travel photography features
60
lighter than average (200 grams)
built-in flash
terrible battery power (250 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
comes with focus via touch
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q7 Landscape photography factors
Sony QX30 Landscape photography factors
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery power (250 CIPA)
39
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inches)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax Q7 Vlogging details
Sony QX30 Vlogging details
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (200g)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
35
pretty wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Pentax Q7 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q7 and Sony QX30
 Pentax Q7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Q7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Announced 2013-08-08 2014-09-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax Q fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Available lenses 8 -
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" -
Screen resolution 460k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.90 m (ISO100/m) no built-in flash
Flash modes P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync None
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 200 grams (0.44 lbs) 193 grams (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 250 pictures 200 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI68 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (12 sec, 2 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots One One
Price at release $480 $348