RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: First K 30 (Very) Brief Hands-on

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

First K 30 (Very) Brief Hands-on

http://www.facebook.com/PentaxSingapore

The AA battery holder:

Focus Peaking:

AF Adjustment with Individual Lenses (Just like the K-5):

Comments (18)

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faglmt · 668 weeks ago

... I'm gonna wait for some changing on the firmware that ports the focus peaking on k-5, or wait the k-3.. i damn need a battery grip!

2 replies · active 668 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 668 weeks ago

I am almost sure that Pentax will NOT give you THAT!

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faglmt · 668 weeks ago

i know.. i said that after the bottom side view of the k30. :(

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David · 668 weeks ago

Focusing peaking is what I really want for manual focus. But I am going to wait for the K-5 replacement.

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Fred · 668 weeks ago

Great that the K-30 supports fine adjustment. It also has the horizon-levelling feature, so now that I've found out it has a pentaprism, I think it'll be my next body.

I just don't know how much of a difference 12 bit RAW is to the K-5's 14 bit RAW... But Pentax are saying that the output of the K-30 is superior to the K-5. I guess we'll find out when the reviews start coming in.

3 replies · active 668 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 668 weeks ago

Don't expect surprise though. I think the IQ of K-5, K-01 and K30 will be more or less the same, with the same sensor but only different processing.

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jaad75 · 668 weeks ago

That's simply wrong. 14-bit RAW gives you almost 1EV of DR more.

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jaad75 · 668 weeks ago

Even more than 1EV in case of K-01 vs. K-5: http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-...

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Rob · 668 weeks ago

Ugh decisions decisions. The K30 lacks two things to make it the perfect K200D replacement - battery grip and top LCD. I think I can live without the top LCD but the battery grip is another story. Its not just the extra power but the extra space for my hands too.

Please Pentax, put new electronics in a K200 body and call it a K300!!! It would have to be the least expensive "new" camera ever as far as R&D.

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Chevy Guy · 668 weeks ago

They could make a grip wonder why they did not it's normal to have a grip option for a mid level body.
Couple of points either go AA native or a real lithium battery this lithium is too weedy to be of much use, having to buy an adaptor for AA's is a bit dumb.
I would like a top LCD too, Pentax are being a bit mean on costs here they even left the HDMI port off to save a few cents

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Andrew · 668 weeks ago

Give it a couple of months and we will have reports of backfocus in some lighting conditions, bodies that crack, AF points that are not where the VF indicators show them, grips that come off, and mirror slap that blurs your shots.

I hope Pentax have all their QC issues sorted out for this body

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Jose · 668 weeks ago

+1 on battery grip. Also faster flash sync. My k-x only sync up to 1/180 with my flash wirelessly. But with the same flash/wireless trigger, it can sync with my Lumix LX-5 up to 1/1000.

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Rob · 668 weeks ago

So the more I think about it the more I am set on buying the K30. My logic:

A K5 is about $100 more right now. Add in $200 for the batter grip.

- What I lose with a K5:

Slight loss of IQ
less capable video
Focus Peaking
Older processor
older AF system
AA battery option

What I gain with the K5

Battery grip
top LCD
52K ISO
1fps

I dont really care about the HDMI port or the audio. If I ever decide to do serious video, I will but its just not a priority for me now.

My dear K200D is past its prime and needs to become a backup camera. The k-x and k-r were not enough better than my K200D to make up for the loss of weather seals, top LCD, grip and in the case of the k-x focus selection indicators. I wanted to replace it with a K7 but the high ISO performance was too disappointing. I was about to pull the trigger on a K5 when the K-01 was released and I decided to see what was coming next. The K30 is not perfect, It is close enough. When the "K-3" is released it will likely be $1500. The K30 will hold me until the price drops and then I will have a great backup.

I think the K30 is a GREAT middle camera and sets the bar VERY high for the "K-3" (or what ever it will get called).

2 replies · active 668 weeks ago

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jaad75 · 668 weeks ago

You loose 1/8000s shutter, about 1EV of DR, ISO80, magnesium alloy body, more advanced bracketing, direct access to different metering methods, X mode, DOF preview and many more as well...

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Rob · 668 weeks ago

opps

forgot about the slower max shutter speed because it is still a step up from the 1/4000 on my K200
1 stop of EV and ISO 80 also a bummer
bracketing and metering I can live with out
same on DoF preview

X mode???

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Chris · 668 weeks ago

-1 on battery grip.

* Pentax' own batteries (not the AAs) have such a long time between recharging, especially when using little or no flash - what do you guys need the battery grip for?

* Pentax cameras are so ergonomically shaped, they feel extremely good in your (my) hand - so what, again, do you guys need a battery grip for?

Puzzled

1 reply · active 668 weeks ago

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faglmt · 668 weeks ago

I'm not able due some posture issues to take the camera in inverted axis (for shooting in portaits), and my hands start shaking a lot.
I don't need the grip for have more space, or more battery, but to be able to shoot without shaking problems. :)

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Andrew Munster · 668 weeks ago

just get a spare battery

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RiceHigh's Pentax Blog

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

First K 30 (Very) Brief Hands-on

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