Pentax K-30 16.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Reviews Roundup
On May 21 2012, Pentax announced the 16.28 Megapixels weather and dust resistant DSLR camera - the PENTAX K-30. It features a compact & lightweight body, 16.28 Megapixels CMOS sensor, new SAFOX IXi+ AF sensor module with 9 cross points out of 11, and the 81 seals weather, dust and cold resistant body. It also comes with a glass prism optical finder with 100% field of view, high-speed burst shooting at 6 fps, a high-speed shutter unit with a top speed of 1/6000 second, dual electronic dials to access to exposure control and several Auto Picture and scene modes, as well as a 3-inch 920K LCD display, an ISO range reaching to 25,600, and 1080P video at 30fps (30, 25, 24, and 60fps at 720P). It is compatible with all PENTAX K-mount lenses.
The K-30 features the Auto Picture mode, which analyzes a scene then automatically selects the most appropriate shooting mode from Portrait, Landscape, Macro as well as others. It also offers 19 creative Scene modes, including Night Scene Portrait, Pet, Backlight Silhouette, etc. The new K-30 is available in three body colors: Crystal White, Crystal Blue, and traditional Black. The K-30 is listed for $849.95 body only, and $899.95 for the kit including the DA L 18-55mm zoom lens.
Pentax K-30 Sample Photos on Flickr
Pentax K-30 Camera Reviews Roundup
| Digital Camera Review: "With a feature set commensurate with its designation by Pentax as a mid-level DSLR, the K-30 is nevertheless the current entry-level model in the Pentax line. It's a short line to be sure, consisting of the K-30 and the K-5II/s. The K-5 is still available, but its price slots it between the K-30 and its newer sibling. Like it or not, the K-30 is your weapon of choice if an entry-level Pentax DSLR is on your shopping..." - Mar 13 2013 More » | |
| pixiq: "My first outing with K-30 was to my aunt's birthday dinner, held in a dimly-lit restaurant. I was very impressed with the colour reproduction and thought that it handled higher ISOs well, but I noticed what I think is probably the K-30's biggest downfall: its pitifully slow auto-focusing capability. I was disappointed when a good proportion of the photos weren't as crisp as I would have wanted them. In good light, h..." - Dec 05 2012 More » | |
| Amateur Photographer: "With a refined version of the 16-million-pixel sensor that has received such praise in cameras such as the Pentax K-5 and Nikon D7000, expectations are therefore high for the K-30, a less expensive camera that sits lower down the range. As with Pentax's own K-01, our resolution charts show that the K-30 is able to resolve up to the 26 marker at ISO 100 in DNG raw format, using the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. To get..." - Nov 01 2012 More » | |
| Imaging Resource: "With the K-30 digital SLR, Pentax has done something pretty impressive. The company has managed to take several very worthwhile features that its rivals reserve for their enthusiast and pro-oriented cameras, and place them in a mid-range camera. If you don't already have an investment in glass for a competing mount--or if your investment isn't great enough to prevent you jumping ship--then Pentax has given you sever..." - Oct 31 2012 More » | |
| PopPhoto: "With a deep grip, dual command wheels, and plenty to customize, the K-30 offers more control over settings and interface than any true entry-level camera on the market. You choose what the command wheels control in various exposure modes--which one sets aperture or shutter speed in manual mode, for example, or which one sets exposure compensation in aperture- or shutter-priority mode. Once you have the controls set..." - Oct 30 2012 More » | |
| dpreview: "We shot thousands of frames with the Pentax K-30 in both controlled studio and real-life conditions and when looking through these images it is very difficult to find any fault with them. The camera's 16MP output by now represents the lower end of the image size spectrum in this class of camera and if you are planning on printing your images at very large sizes this could be a disadvantage. However, for most users t..." - Oct 30 2012 More » | |
| Digital Camera Resource Page: "If there's one thing you can see about Pentax cameras, it's that they never skimp on features. Those seeking a point-and-shoot experience can use Auto Picture Mode, which will select a scene mode automatically. There are tons of scene modes, as well as an HDR feature that improves contrast (though I don't recommend cranking that feature up too high). Enthusiasts will find full manual controls, RAW (DNG) support, lot..." - Sep 17 2012 More » | |
| Photography BLOG: "It's refreshing to see Pentax deliver what they do best: an excellent DSLR camera that delivers a lot of features and performance without breaking the bank. We've always had a soft spot for Pentax DSLRs and the new K-30 is no different, clearly building on the strengths of the more expensive K-5 model. This is an appealingly well-specified, intuitive, weatherproof and customisable DSLR with few real drawbacks. The a..." - Aug 23 2012 More » | |
| PhotoReview Australia: "Subjectively, the K-30 appears to be a more responsive camera than its predecessors. Images were displayed faster in preview mode and during playback and image processing was also noticeably faster, a fact confirmed by our timing tests (see below). Live view shooting was smoother and easier and autofocusing was noticeably faster than the K-01. The new SAFOX IXi+ AF system, which includes an improved light detection..." - Aug 22 2012 More » | |
| Trusted Reviews: "The K-30's all-new SAFOX IXi autofocus system performs well when the camera is being used through the viewfinder, with the AF proving consistently quick to lock focus in good light, while also remaining admirably swift when light levels drop. By default, the camera will emit an audible beep when focus has been locked, the volume of which can be adjusted up or down, or even switched off altogether. The 18-55mm f/3.5-..." - Aug 15 2012 More » | |
| Digital Camera Info: "The Pentax K-30 made a splash--quite literally--when it was first introduced as a fully weather-resistant, budget DSLR earlier this year. While the marketing made it seem like some brave new innovation by Pentax, the truth is they've been making hardy, weather-resistant DSLRs for years. Like the well-received Pentax K-5 last year, the K-30 combines great handling, solid design, and the ability to take on extreme env..." - Aug 09 2012 More » | |
| Pocket-lint: "The quality of images is a significant reason to consider purchasing a DSLR. And K-30 doesn't disappoint in this department. It's built upon the K-5's and K-01's strengths, using the same 16-megapixel APS-C sensor to shoot from ISO 100 through to 12,800 (25,600 extended). It might not have the output size of the Nikon D3200, for example, but that won't be an issue for most. Whether shooting raw, JPEG, or both file t..." - Aug 09 2012 More » | |
| Steve's Digicam: "High ISO performance is impressive. In my test shots the K-30 performed well even at ISO 3200. You can shoot at up to ISO 12800, though the noise becomes a bit too obstructive on fine details beginning at ISO 6400, in my opinion, when using NR Auto (the default). Even at the highest ISO settings, however, the shots are certainly usable, and you can choose from three levels of noise reduction: low, medium, and high...." - Aug 07 2012 More » | |
| What Digital Camera: "In the past Pentax D-SLR's have been known to underexpose a touch, however we experienced no such concerns in our tests. Even in tricky situations where the lighting was harsh and the colours were vibrant, the K30 handled situations well. Loading a large selection of RAW files into Photoshop revealed histograms that shared a uniform shape and it was only when we turned the highlight and shadow clipping warnings on t..." - Aug 01 2012 More » | |
| TheVerge: "Unsurprisingly (it is a DSLR, after all), the K-30 takes excellent photos. Its 16-megapixel APS-C sensor is average for a DSLR, but it still does its job admirably. I tested the camera with a weatherproof 18-135mm, f/3.5-5.6 lens, and I'm impressed with its sharpness -- you definitely lose a bit of clarity as you move toward the corners, but the fact that I could make out individual blades of grass in the corner of..." - Jul 27 2012 More » | |
| ePhotoZine: "Colour reproduction is very good with strong saturation and particularly impressive flesh tones. Detail can be very good. Exposure and focus are reliable, with the camera producing bright punchy images. Shake Reduction allows shots to be taken at shutter speeds as slow at 1/10 with sharp results for a good number of the shots. Dynamic range is very good with a number of options to increase or adjust the levels..." - Jul 27 2012 More » | |
| PentaxForum: "By now, our feelings about this camera should be crystal clear. While we harbor a few disappointments here and there about what might have been, we feel that the K-30 is simply the best dSLR that Pentax has ever made. (And we say that as loving owners of the last Pentax dSLR to hold that title, may it R.I.P.) You might say, "Well, it's been two years since the last new dSLR came out of the Pentax design studios..." - Jul 23 2012 More » | |
| What Digital Camera: "Much like the K-5, the K-30 features an 11-point AF system and the Advanced SAFOX IXi+ autofocus engine offers improved optical components, including a diffraction lens to enhance autofocus operation in any lighting conditions. To change the AF point you're required to use the central OK button. This activates the four way buttons to reposition the AF point and then to return back again you hold down the OK button f..." - Jul 14 2012 More » | |
| Pocket-lint: "Boosting the Pentax K-30's credentials are a glass prism finder, offering near 100 per cent FOV, 11-point (9 cross-type) autofocusing, as well as, Pentax claims, a new AF algorithm with a select-area function which will track a moving object as it moves out of a pre-selected focus area. You'll be able to shoot JPEG images at up to six frames a second, with a max shutter speed of 1/6000 sec. The Prime M imaging engin..." - Jul 07 2012 More » | |
| pdn: "As for image quality, the K-30 is about on par to K-5, which is to be expected because the image sensor is very similar to the one in that camera. In fact, the K-30's sensor is exactly the same as the one in the new, Marc Newsom-designed Pentax K-01 compact system camera, which is a tweaked version of the chip in the K-5. In their default settings, Pentax's DSLRs have always tended to produce slightly oversaturated..." - Jul 03 2012 More » |
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User Review of the camera - Pentax K-30
Excellent product, Florin Vitan
This is my second Pentax SLR and it's an excellent product. It has a unbeatable price for its middle range class
Fantastic First DSLR, J. Flores
I absolutely love this camera. It is rugged and hefty and I personally love the design of it. The image quality is amazing. This is my first DSLR as my previous camera was a Canon SX160. I switched b/c Canon was lacking in the image quality dept. IMO the auto-focus is very fast and I am very happy with the kit lens as well. The color reproduction is fantastic. I used to be a Photoshop "Curves Adjustment Layer" fanatic with my Canon to get the type of color I wished to present in my photos, but with this camera there is no need to do that as the images this little powerhouse produces are superb right out of the box. I would highly recommend reading through the entire instruction manual as there are a TON of settings to tinker with. I find the controls to be pretty intuitive once you get used to them. High ISO shots produce very little noise. As a DSLR novice, I could not be happier with this camera. It puts a smile on my face every time I view the pictures that come out of this thing. Highly recommended and cannot beat the price for the features.
Amazing camera, greasy
Both easy to use while producing great results in all possible confitions (light, weather, moving subject). the 18-135mm versaility is perfect if you do not want to travel with mutliple lenses.
I love my Pentax K-30, Michelle Dean
I don't photograph professionally but I love taking picture an have always wanted a dslr camera. I looked into all different brands and levels of camera and I am very happy with this camera. The weather resistance is an awesome feature however I really haven't been brave enough to test it yet. It fits well in my hand, and has a more rugged feel to it, which is good because I'm always dropping things it also has more settings then I know what to do with, which is not a drawl back in my opinion it's exciting and fun to play with them all. I didn't want a stock lense although I think I will invest in a weather resistant pentax lense eventually. Best thing I've bought for myself in a long time.
Simply the best DSLR in it's class, geru
I've been a Pentax user since their initial foray into the DSLR's and this is the best of the lot.
While I've been with Pentax for awhile I'm no fanboy. Before this upgrade from a Pentax Kr I researched all the major brands Nikon, Canon, Sony and Olympus however when I matched them up against each other the K30 was by far the most camera for the money.
I'm into still photography so the one area that Pentax lags behind (video) wasn't much of a concern for me. I seriously considered dumping Pentax and going with another brand but at this level of camera the drawbacks to the other brands were just to many. Those camera were nothing more than point and shoots on steroids. They had none to little room for the growing photographer unless of course you bought a higher level of camera.
This camera offers so many features that are usually found on camera's hundreds of $ more expensive.
* Weather and dust sealing
* Electronic level
* 100% view through the viewfinder
* Lens Auto Focus Fine Adjustment for up to 20 different lenses
* Focus Peaking
* Programmable Front and Rear Wheels
* It not only has aperture and shutter priority (Tv, Av) it also has TAv(shutter-aperture priority ,Automatic Exposure)
* Two USER Modes to save your favorite settings
....and much more....
The best though is the cameras exceptional IQ and handling of noise. I am no longer concerned with shooting at 3200 ISO and even up to 6400. ISO 3200 shots need little to no work while 6400 may need some depending on its use.
Many fan-boys of other brands will point out the lack of lenses for Pentax. I have never found this to be the case there is a lens for everything I do. I've got 5 lenses some primes including the 100 mm Micro lens, and the Pentax 18-250mm, I've not wanted for anything.
While this camera may be classified as entry level by some it has many features of a prosumer camera at hundreds of $ less. It's an easy enough camera for a beginner and has enough room for even the intermediate photographer to grow.
I would highly recommend this camera to anyone considering a DSLR whether a beginner or intermediate user this camera will satisfy.
Amazon did their usual wonderful job in getting this camera to me on time and also a shout out for Emmy Photography for offering the great Price. Thanks to both.
Bestest Camera I ever Owned, SurferBud
Looks great. Quality build (unlike the cheapo plastic-y feel of the Rebel series). Excellent picture taking abilities. Loads of features. Weather proofing means no worries of dropping it in the toilet.
Pentax club for life, thanks to this camera!, Hallolog
My interest with photography started off when I joined the high school year book club, and has continued into college. This camera is amazing. I can't speak much into specifics as far as the sensor quality compared to other cameras and things like that, however this camera trumps the T3i I was using prior. Here are a few things I really like about this camera.
-Seems a bit smaller than your average DSLR, convenient for astrophotography when mounting on a scope.
-Built in HDR - Love it or hate it, it's there to use.
-Just press one button and you're shooting in RAW.
-It's tough. I've brought it out in the rain to shoot multiple times, without a care in the world.
-Backwards compatibility for lenses. I just got my hands on a 30 year old 50mm prime for all of $40.
-Insanely fast shutter lag. Nearly on par with a 5DM3, which costs roughly 4x as much.
-Buttons are all placed in an easy to use layout. I can operate this camera with gloves without too much issue.
-The "feel" of the camera is fantastic, like you're holding something really well made.
-Video feature is really convenient. Haven't used it more than a couple times but 1080p at 30fps is nice to have.
As I said, I'm no pro photographer or even much of a hobbyist, but with this camera I can take some pretty amazing shots. If the slightly lower amount of lenses doesn't scare you away from Pentax, you cannot go wrong with this camera.
Great Pictures Right Away., Mark C
This is the easiest DSLR I have ever used. Much better that older Pentax models. Excellent pictures in the just the first few., and I mean excellent. Surprised my Cannon buddies!
Awesome, just awesome, thode,nils
the camera just makes me happy. the images are great and i know there are better reviews, so here are my five stars!
I love this camera!, mdash
I wanted a DSLR since my little point and shoot stopped working. I hike and camp a lot, so this Pentax K-30 all-weather camera sounded perfect. It's not as compact as a little camera, of course, but the image quality is excellent, so I'll put up with the extra weight. I am a novice DSLR user so I am learning by trial and error in addition to using the manual. I like the look and feel of this camera. It's easy to hold and the white casing is very stylish--so important on a back woods trail! Haha!
Great Camera - Body Only?, realpicky
Purchased this camera for some family shots, mostly indoor low light shots, but occasionally I want to venture outside. After shooting a bit with the 18-135 indoor, I realize that although the lens is versatile, as I am learning more about lenses and their capabilities, I think it may have been wise to go with a body only price and purchase a low F-stop lense between 25-50 MM. As I am learning, and most of you may already know, you need a lower F stop in low light, which lowers the Depth of field but captures more light. When shooting indoors (kids and sorts) there is movement and to capture that clearly you need to jack up your shutter speed to 1/50-120 that dampens the light and the only other way to compensate is a lower f-stop or higher ISO. ISO dramatically reduces clarity which you are paying for; but the only other option is to slightly over expose and lower f-stop. Hence, the need for low f-stop lens which brings me back to the fact that it may be wise to buy body only and add a prime (fix length) lens of 35MM at a 2.0F which would be very versatile for family shots whoever you don't have the zoom flexibility. Just a thought. Great camera other wize, I like the OS, very easy to use after some research. Well worth the money, just not sure my 135mm zoom was... for me atlease
an amazing camera at an amazing price, warren stilwell
Pros:
Very fast focus in low light conditions
nice weight distribution
perfect fit/size for larger hands
low noise at high ISO (I use auto ISO up to 3200 w/ very little discernible noise)
nice color options!
cons:
no connection for external mic for HD video recording
stock battery life: ~500 shots when not using LCD screen or flash - I found if you purchase the Pentax K-r 39100 AA Battery Holder-Adapter D-BH109 along with some Eneloops I get between 700 and 800 shots. Much improved!
Excellent camera for taking still pictures, Rudz
This camera is by faaar the best camera in its price range for entry level photographers interested in taking STILL PICTURES. Pentax has also included the shake reduction in the body of the camera so you can now enjoy this feature even when using old Pentax lenses (and there are plenty of those) which can easily be found online being sold at very affordable prices. You can refer to the below link in order to pick the lens that suits your needs as well as your budget based on other users reviews.
[...]
Pentax claims that all their auto-focus cameras are backward compatible with K- mount lenses dating back as far as 1975, It is true, and trust me, this is one of the best reasons to own a Pentax. This means that you can own a complete set of AMAZING lenses for a fraction of the price that you would have to pay if you are to own DSLRs from other brands.
Disregard all the reviews criticizing the build quality and the different kind of rubber used cause the camera is very sturdy, fits great in your hand and is made out of very good material especially when compared to any other DSLR in its price range.
Cons:
- No HDMI output
- Jello effect when shooting video (you can watch some videos on Youtube to see what I mean by that)
- No mic input for video shooters.
- Bad battery life (might as well buy an extra battery, AA adaptor or the Wasabi extra batteries which seem to have rave reviews)
- Fixed rear LCD - only when compared to certain models from Sony and Canon
Bottom line:
It's a great camera for stills and by the way, it is worth mentioning that Pentax has confirmed that they are working on full frame cameras thus catering to a larger audience and making your set of lenses even more useful.
Great camera!, Jessica S
Easy to use, takes wonderful photos, and is really solid. Fits nicely in my hands and is fun to use. The 18-55mm lense is a bit limited in range and not weather sealed but it's a good starter lense. Definitely going to need to get a macro lense some day and probably a longer zoom.
Pentax K30, Wes Luhr
Great camera! Love the feel of it. Glad I went with the blue color - little more unique. Lots of features to learn still. Seems to take sharp pictures. Hope to have this camera for a long-long time.
Awesomeness, Dr. Evil
I am a novice to photography, but needed a dslr camera that was compatible with an older macro lens I had. After some time researching, I chose the k-30, bc of cost/compatible to my tamron lens/the weather sealing/ and the color. I didn't want a boring black case. I use this camera for work, I'm a dentist and take clinical photos, before/after shots, the photos also help me explain what going on in people's mouths.
I couldn't be happier with the camera. It's easy to use, I've got a secure grip on it( I don't want to drop it on a patient) and it takes great photos.
Pentax K-30 photographer's camera., Richard Johnson
Weather resistant, good cold temp performance outside in Minnesota winter. Ace Photo very fast delivery in three days! Lens is tack sharp and white balance control excellent. Auto focus very fast when changing focal lengths for multiple shots of a subject. Lithium battery took 450 shots on one charge without flash.
this is a keeper!, crews
the camera is quirky and full of personality.
an interesting feature set.
excellent performance.
very durable.
i'm quite happy with it.
Happy Camper, cindy erskine
Meets all expectations.Compatable with my other Pentax lenses and performs as expected.Replaced my Pentax film camera with the K-30 and am as happy with the new addition as I was with my film cameras-both Pentax.
Wonderful camera (wondering a bit now), K. R. Mitchell
This camera has high iso capabilities, video and a fast frame per second rate.
Plus I love the blue color! This camera has a cool look!
Four months of ownership my beloved camera has failed me.
The metering system has somehow gone haywire and my pictures are coming out black from underexposure.
I had to return it to the manufacturer for service. Good thing I held on to my K200D so I've got a back up.
Maybe Pentax quality control isn't what it should be?