Nikon
D3100
 vs
Pentax
K-30

Updated (May, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

96

  
Nikon D3100

55

  
Winner

Pentax K-30

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-30

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,129 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
79.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.61x
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 124x96x73 mm
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 90% more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1100 ms
Help
 2.7x less delay when turning on
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 410 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Weight Significantly lighter 505 g vs 650 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $399.00 vs $517.59
Help
 The best price we've seen is $119 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Size Slightly smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 130x97x71 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100

Advantages of the Pentax K-30
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 79.0 vs 67.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,129 ISO vs 919 ISO
Help
 The K-30 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The K-30's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.61x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 162 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 6 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 2x faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.7x15.7mm vs APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 14.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The K-30's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 More than 30% faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 2.8" vs 2.9"
Help
 Almost the same
Pentax K-30 Learn more about
the Pentax K-30
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
55 vs 96
Explain scores
Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-30.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Size Fairly small Help
D3100:124x96x73 mm
K-30:130x97x71 mm
Thickness Thin Help
D3100:2.9"
K-30:2.8"
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
D3100:$399.00
K-30:$517.59
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3100:14.2 MP
K-30:16.1 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D3200 vs the D3100
Compare the D3200 vs the K-30
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100
Compare the D5100 vs the K-30
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-30
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Compare the D90 vs the K-30
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the D3100
Compare the D7000 vs the K-30
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-30
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7100 vs the D3100
Compare the D7100 vs the K-30

Nikon D3100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Sensor size Larger sensor
Size Smaller
Movie format Does not take movies
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

Pentax K-30 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$692 - $709 body only

$829 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Supports 24p No 24p support
Weight Heavier
Compare the K-5 vs the K-30
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$768 - $997 body only

$1,115 - $1,547 with 18-135mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Much longer battery life
Supports 24p No 24p support
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-30

appearance

Nikon D3100 Pentax K-30
Nikon D3100 Pentax K-30
Nikon D3100 Pentax K-30

discussion

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