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Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30

Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Samsung NX30 front
Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71

Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 Key Specs

Pentax X70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 50 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 410g - 110 x 83 x 90mm
  • Announced March 2009
Samsung NX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 375g - 127 x 96 x 58mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Old Model is Samsung NX20
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Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Pentax X70 versus Samsung NX30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Samsung. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the X70 (12MP) and NX30 (20MP) and the X70 (1/2.3") and NX30 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The X70 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the NX30 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the X70 grades versus the NX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Samsung NX30

 X70 NX30 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Pentax X70

 NX30 X70 
LaunchedJanuary 2014March 2009More modern by 58 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1036k230kClearer display (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Samsung NX30

 X70 NX30 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax X70 comes with outer measurements of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") and a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Samsung NX30 has measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") along with a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax X70 versus Samsung NX30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the X70 vs the NX30.

Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the X70 and NX30 is 71 and 75 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by looking at technical specs. The image here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the X70 and NX30.

As you can tell, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The X70 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Samsung NX30 will give extra detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged X70 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X70
Portrait photography with Samsung NX30
28
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
77
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX30 as a Street photography camera
46
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
75
screen articulates
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X70 Sports photography advice
Samsung NX30 Sports photography advice
50
great zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
73
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X70 Travel photography features
Samsung NX30 Travel photography features
52
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
very long zoom (624mm)
missing Timelapse function
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
74
offers touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X70 Landscape photography advice
Samsung NX30 Landscape photography advice
35
you can focus manually
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax X70
Vlogging with Samsung NX30
24
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
75
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
features face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
no image stabilization
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Pentax X70 vs Samsung NX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Samsung NX30
 Pentax X70Samsung NX30
General Information
Company Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax X70 Samsung NX30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2009-03-02 2014-01-03
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - DRIMeIV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 50 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 247
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens zoom range 26-624mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 10cm -
Number of lenses - 32
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,036 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - AMOLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.66x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.10 m -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 410 grams (0.90 pounds) 375 grams (0.83 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1014
Other
Battery life - 360 pictures
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI92 BP1410
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD, SDHC, SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $200 $699