Pentax K20D vs Olympus E30

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Pentax K20D vs Olympus E30

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APS-C 368.2mm²
14.6 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K20D Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K20D.

4/3 224.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Olympus E30 Review.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-7
Compare K20D vs K-7
Compare Pentax K-7 vs Olympus E30

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Differences

Pentax K20D advantages over Olympus E30

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Less expensive
$800 vs $1299 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 5.05 vs 4.29 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
K20D test data on DxO Mark E30 test data on DxO Mark

639 vs 530 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More viewfinder magnification
0.63x vs 0.51x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
14.6 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Olympus E30 advantages over Pentax K20D

Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

650 vs 530 shots
Capture more photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Neither provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Pentax K20D

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Buy the Olympus E30

Review Excerpt

Read our Pentax K20D Full Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Olympus E30, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Olympus E30 First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Samsung GX-20

Pentax K20D

Samsung GX-20

$800
APS-C

Less expensive

$1400
APS-C

Higher effective ISO

Compare Pentax K20D vs Samsung GX-20

Olympus E30

Samsung GX-20

$1299
4/3

Tiltable Screen
Longer exposure

$1400
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E30 vs Samsung GX-20

Compared to Olympus E-520

Pentax K20D

Olympus E-520

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$700
4/3

Longer stills battery life
Lighter weight

Compare Pentax K20D vs Olympus E-520

Olympus E30

Olympus E-520

$1299
4/3

Tiltable Screen
Top deck display

$700
4/3

Less expensive

Compare Olympus E30 vs Olympus E-520

Compared to Sony DSLR-A380

Pentax K20D

Sony DSLR-A380

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$849
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
HDMI out

Compare Pentax K20D vs Sony DSLR-A380

Olympus E30

Sony DSLR-A380

$1299
4/3

Longer stills battery life
Top deck display

$849
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E30 vs Sony DSLR-A380

Compared to Pentax K-7

Pentax K20D

Pentax K-7

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1300
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
HDMI out

Compare Pentax K20D vs Pentax K-7

Olympus E30

Pentax K-7

$1299
4/3

Tiltable Screen
Longer exposure

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E30 vs Pentax K-7

Compared to Olympus E-5

Pentax K20D

Olympus E-5

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$1700
4/3

Tiltable Screen
Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K20D vs Olympus E-5

Olympus E30

Olympus E-5

$1299
4/3

Less expensive
Lighter weight

$1700
4/3

Longer stills battery life
HDMI out

Compare Olympus E30 vs Olympus E-5

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