Advice re Camera Choice
Posted 06/01/2014 - 15:27
Link
There is still a metal chassis but the outer shell is polycarbonate.
Best regards, John
Posted 06/01/2014 - 15:45
Link
Russ wrote:
The K30 (and K50) have some advantages over the K5:
Focus Peaking in Liveview - oh i miss that.....
I think that would be one of the most useful features for the intended use of the camera for flowers (although I don't use it myself for what I use my cameras) - and the lack of it on the K-5 a possible distinct disadvantage.The K30 (and K50) have some advantages over the K5:
Focus Peaking in Liveview - oh i miss that.....
John A
K-3 II, K-3 and a K-70 from SRS (having now relegated the K-30 /"K-50" to a backup body), & some Sigma and Pentax lenses (and a lot of old 35mm gear!)
Posted 06/01/2014 - 16:00
Link
John A, do we really need focus peaking to shoot flowers? I shoot lots of flower portraits and use AF plus QuickShift to adjust where I want the focus point to be. With the K-5 as it happens. Flowers move about a bit in the wind, so fast shooting is sometimes needed as the air is rarely totally still.
Best regards, John
Posted 06/01/2014 - 19:11
Link
Thanks for the views. I *think* I will carry on looking at used K5 bodies for the moment.
Real name: Mike Edwards. My homage to seventies Vauxhalls: www.firenza.net
Camera - Pentax Kx, 18-55 kit lens, 18-200 Sigma, 50-500 Sigma, 500mm Tamron mirror
Camera - Pentax Kx, 18-55 kit lens, 18-200 Sigma, 50-500 Sigma, 500mm Tamron mirror
Posted 08/01/2014 - 14:28
Link
Hi, thanks for all the comments so far. I am fast coming to the view that I will revert to using a prime lens for my close up work.
With that and my £600 approx. budget in mind I was thinking of aK30 and a Sigma 50 2.8 macro from SRS in their Jan sale. £598.The other option is for a K50 and the Pentax combo for £478 and a few extras, remote control, spare battery, lens hood etc.
I do not have a use for wide angle and I think my 28-135 lens would now be a 42- 200?
Any views on the choice above would be welcomed;
Big birthday bucks 6 weeks away and the SRS sale finishes end of Jan.
Thanks,
Ross.
With that and my £600 approx. budget in mind I was thinking of aK30 and a Sigma 50 2.8 macro from SRS in their Jan sale. £598.The other option is for a K50 and the Pentax combo for £478 and a few extras, remote control, spare battery, lens hood etc.
I do not have a use for wide angle and I think my 28-135 lens would now be a 42- 200?
Any views on the choice above would be welcomed;
Big birthday bucks 6 weeks away and the SRS sale finishes end of Jan.
Thanks,
Ross.
Posted 08/01/2014 - 15:51
Link
I currently use the K5 and the K30 (which I'm selling for £290 body only)
The main differences are:
K5.....Quieter shutter
No Focus peaking
Slightly better build quality
Larger body
Larger battery
K30....Focus peaking (Great for manual focus)
Lighter body
Nicer ergonomics
Faster autofocus
I don't see any difference in image quality between the two cameras
The main differences are:
K5.....Quieter shutter
No Focus peaking
Slightly better build quality
Larger body
Larger battery
K30....Focus peaking (Great for manual focus)
Lighter body
Nicer ergonomics
Faster autofocus
I don't see any difference in image quality between the two cameras
Regards,
Michael
Michael
Posted 08/01/2014 - 17:27
Link
I had a K-30 and have recently picked up a used K-5, my reasons for wanting the K5:
- Quieter Shutter
- Dedicated buttons for setting metering mode (spot, cw, and matrix), and focus point (single point, multiple etc). I find it much better for changing these on the fly than messing with the info btn and back screen.
- Locking mode dial, on several occasions I found my K-30s mode dial had moved from AV to TV while getting in and out of a bag. I lost shots because of this, e.g. shots on a bright beach in TV mode 100ms were very over exposed, obviously I noticed and corrected to by then the moment had passed.
- Top LCD, wasn't too bothered about this but occasionally useful.
- Battery, the K-30 battery frequently needed charging, also the K-5 can share batteries and charger with my K-01.
Cheers Steve
- Quieter Shutter
- Dedicated buttons for setting metering mode (spot, cw, and matrix), and focus point (single point, multiple etc). I find it much better for changing these on the fly than messing with the info btn and back screen.
- Locking mode dial, on several occasions I found my K-30s mode dial had moved from AV to TV while getting in and out of a bag. I lost shots because of this, e.g. shots on a bright beach in TV mode 100ms were very over exposed, obviously I noticed and corrected to by then the moment had passed.
- Top LCD, wasn't too bothered about this but occasionally useful.
- Battery, the K-30 battery frequently needed charging, also the K-5 can share batteries and charger with my K-01.
Cheers Steve
Posted 08/01/2014 - 20:53 - Helpful Comment
Link
Paid £320 for my K30 with money back from Pentax. It's excellent, feels good, weight is just right. I love the fact that I can use AA batteries if I want/need to. Metal v polycarbonate? - think you will find if you drop either camera heavily you will likely damage internal parts eg main circuit board with what ever the case being made of making no difference. The K30 is very quick to alter if you need to change settings but I tend to find that when initially set up I don't alter many settings day to day apart from exposure etc of course. I recommend the K30 (and now the K50) VERY highly.
Posted 13/01/2014 - 21:00
Link
Hello again the OP,I have, today, received a very heavy hint from my nearest and dearest not to do anything camera wise until my 80th birthday at the end of next month!
I was going to buy a K50 body and use it with my Sigma 28-135 lens and the get a prime macro lens at some point. Never mind!
Cheers for now and thanks for all the advice.
Ross.
Elderly man in lycra!
I was going to buy a K50 body and use it with my Sigma 28-135 lens and the get a prime macro lens at some point. Never mind!
Cheers for now and thanks for all the advice.
Ross.
Elderly man in lycra!
Posted 13/01/2014 - 22:46
Link
emil wrote:
Hello again the OP,I have, today, received a very heavy hint from my nearest and dearest not to do anything camera wise until my 80th birthday at the end of the month!
Exciting!
Hello again the OP,I have, today, received a very heavy hint from my nearest and dearest not to do anything camera wise until my 80th birthday at the end of the month!
Posted 15/01/2014 - 13:28 - Helpful Comment
Link
I was faced with this dilemma and was deciding between the K5 or K30 as a upgrade from my Kx and ultimately I plumped for the K30.
My reasoning was that I was getting the K5 sensor in a smaller body with a newer Auto focus engine, focus peaking on the LCD and it was still weather sealed.
I didn't see the point in paying the extra for the K5 in that instance.
My reasoning was that I was getting the K5 sensor in a smaller body with a newer Auto focus engine, focus peaking on the LCD and it was still weather sealed.
I didn't see the point in paying the extra for the K5 in that instance.
Pentax K3, DA 18-55 WR, Sigma 50-500 EX DG HSM, Pentax M-50, a bucket load of SD cards, some lights and a lightbox
Posted 15/01/2014 - 13:38
Link
I agree and my family decide what they have store for my birthday I hope it is a Pentax! A K39 or K50
But you never know, I might get a hint earlier and then I can make my own choice!
But you never know, I might get a hint earlier and then I can make my own choice!
Posted 15/01/2014 - 13:39
Link
Sorry a K 30 not a 39!
Add Comment
To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.
6794 posts
17 years
Nottingham
specially it seems with the newer K50 which is sealed, metal bodied and full pentaprism I think.