9 Reasons the Pentax K-30 Could Be Your Next Digital Camera
1. Pentax may not be one of the first names that come to mind for a moderate mid-level DSLR, but the company’s newest camera, the Pentax K-30, appears to earn just consideration. It’s a choice that compares favorably to the Nikon D90, Canon 60D and Rebel T3i and Sony A57 and A65 DSLRs. Available for purchase during late June 2012, the K-30 can be interpreted as an attempt by Ricoh, the new owner of Pentax, to take advantage of the reputation of the Pentax K-5 digital camera. Some consider it the best APS-C DSLR for its approximately $1,100 (body only) price tag.
Read real customer reviews of the Pentax K-30 here.
2. The Pentax K-30 at approximately $250 less ($849.95, body only) features many of the best capabilities and functions of the K-01 (released during March 2012) and 2010’s K-5. The K-30’s 16-megapixel CMOS sensor and image processor are updated from those in the K-01, which independent tests have revealed to perform better in low-light conditions than the K-5. That is a big point in the K-30’s favor.
3. When placed next to a K-5, the Pentax K-30 is clearly a member of the same family, although it has it’s own distinct styling with various angled sections. It will probably receive a love-it-or-hate-it response from many. At 5.1” x 3.9” x 3.3” (129mm x 98mm x 83mm), the K-30 remains loyal to Pentax’s reputation for designing and manufacturing cameras that are ergonomically superior.
4. The K-30’s stainless steel chassis and polycarbonate body, instead of magnesium alloy, is exceptional durable and reduces the weight to a reasonable 1.43 lbs. (650g). Pentax engineers have also given the K-30 plenty of weather sealing and this protection is somewhat enhanced by the angular design of the exterior.
5. Pentax’s attention to the importance of ergonomics is also evident in the comfortable grip and the easy-to-reach series of buttons, dials and other exterior controls.
6. The spacious 3-inch, 921,000-dot TFT LCD screen provides 0.92x magnification and 100% coverage. Plus, you’re able to adjust brightness and color to help give you a clear, detailed image in various shooting environments.
7. The K-30’s autofocus system actually exceeds the specs of the more-pricey K-5. The SAFOX IXi+ AF has 11 AF points with 9 cross-type. The K-30 has also been updated with an AF-sensor lens that virtually eliminates chromatic aberrations, which often causes the AF to misread the focusing needs of the image. Another common problem that the Pentax K-30’s AF system addresses is the subject that wanders from the AF point you’ve selected to one nearby. The K-30 is expected to do a better job tracking focus of the subject when the wide-area AF mode is activated.
8. The K-30 is capable of capturing as many as 6 frames per second, compared to the K-5’s 7fps. The K-30’s slower frame rate could be an advantage, since it records as many as 30 JPEGs or 8 Raw files during a longer burst of images; the K-5’s specs are 26 JPEGs or 8 Raw files.
9. Other features that add significantly to the Pentax K-30’s appeal as an excellent mid-range DSLR are in-body image stabilization, an ISO sensitivity range of 100–12,800 (expandable to 25,600), flip-up flash and 1080p Full-HD video at 24, 25 or 30 fps.
Until it is released during late June 2012, the Pentax K-30 DSLR is available for pre-order from B&H Photo Video. The camera comes in a black, blue or white body, which is $849.95. Add the 18–55mm kit lens and the price is $899.95. Other body-and-lens combinations are available. For more information, click here.
People who read this PhotographyTalk.com article also liked:
Your feedback is important to thousands of PhotographyTalk.com fans and us. If this article is helpful, then please click the Like and Re-Tweet buttons at the top left of this article.
Photograph © www.pentax.com