Clicky

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X90 front
 
Samsung SL30 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 Key Specs

Pentax X90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 428g - 111 x 85 x 110mm
  • Announced July 2010
Samsung SL30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 140g - 94 x 61 x 23mm
  • Revealed February 2009
  • Alternative Name is ES15
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Pentax X90 versus Samsung SL30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the X90 (12MP) and the SL30 (10MP) is very similar and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The X90 was manufactured 17 months after the SL30 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung SL30 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the X90 grades vs the SL30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Samsung SL30

 X90 SL30 
RevealedJuly 2010February 2009Newer by 17 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Samsung SL30 over the Pentax X90

 SL30 X90 

Common features in the Pentax X90 and Samsung SL30

 X90 SL30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax X90 has got outer dimensions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Samsung SL30 has sizing of 94mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check out the Pentax X90 versus Samsung SL30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view size comparison of the X90 against the SL30.

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the X90 and SL30 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions just by reviewing specifications. The picture below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the X90 and SL30.

Plainly, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax X90 to offer you greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The newer X90 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 sensor size comparison

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X90 Portrait photography factors
Samsung SL30 Portrait photography factors
29
has manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
25
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Pentax X90 Street photography highlights
Samsung SL30 Street photography highlights
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Pentax X90 Sports photography info
Samsung SL30 Sports photography info
42
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
16
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Pentax X90 Travel photography features
Samsung SL30 Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Pentax X90 Landscape photography information
Samsung SL30 Landscape photography information
35
has manual focus
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X90 Vlogging info
Samsung SL30 Vlogging info
23
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic socket
25
comes with face detect autofocus
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic socket
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Pentax X90 vs Samsung SL30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X90 and Samsung SL30
 Pentax X90Samsung SL30
General Information
Make Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax X90 Samsung SL30
Also called as - ES15
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-07-06 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) 38-114mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.10 m 4.60 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Auto & Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash, Flash Off, Red-Eye Fix
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 428 grams (0.94 pounds) 140 grams (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") 94 x 61 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
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 ID D-L106 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $350 $93