K5 or K30

Perhaps it's understandable that they don't back-port features into old models

I would like to buy a new camera (I have a d5000) and am seriously considering pentax. I was wondering if you could tell me what you think of the k5 and its resposivity and image quality. I am a military plane spotter as a hobby and the camera I buy will have to be able to do that. I saw on the forum that people took some really good looking pictures with the k5 on the par with what we publish on airshows.be ! So it may be possible to do some spotting with the k5 after all ?

Do you think I should wait for the k30 (coming june 25) as it has an improved version of the AF system found in the K5 ?

regards

keltos

There are members here who take incredible pictures of airshows, using older Pentax cameras than the K-5, so I doubt that you will have a problem.

I would consider more whether or not the faster frame rate of the K-5 would be an advantage. It's clearly up for replacement itself, so the price at the moment is excellent. It is more durable with its magnesium alloy body, so if you use your cameras professionally it might be an advantage.

However, I think both will be perfectly viable options.

I do plan to use it professionally as well, I work as an archaeologist. I saw the k5 with the 2 lens kit for 945 euros on redcoon.nl I know it's better to shop in actual stores but I can't afford to miss the rebate offered here..

I live next to EBBE Beauvechain airbase (500 m) in Belgium and go there to take pictures whenever I can.

regards

Fred

Then I'd personally suggest you go for the K-5 and this is the time for it. Soon the moment will, I suspect, have gone and there will be a new higher priced version.

thank you John I think i'll heed your advice, even though my wife kindo likes that blue k30 I showed her...

Fred

I take it from everything I've seen that there will be no battery grip for the K30.

I use one with my K200 and find it makes the camera comfier to use.

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Do what your wife says

lol thanks man !

I put off upgrading my k200 for a long time, waiting to see what Pentax could come up with to tempt me. No surprise that a few days after walking out of the shop with a k5, the k30 turns up...

Do I think I should have waited? Probably not. Moving from the k200 I wanted a top lcd (one of the reasons I never went for the k-x or k-r) and I like the program selector on the left. Sure I could have got used to both of these though.

Strange thing is, I'm not sure I needed to upgrade at all. The video is useful and the better ISO and shooting speed are an improvement but really the camera wasn't the limiting factor!

Bottom line, don't think you'll go far wrong either way but consider putting the money into some new lenses instead.

After I upgraded from the *istDS to the K7 I was disappointed with the garbage I was getting out of the it and wondered why I'd shelled out over 2 grand for the kit! I continued using the *istDS for a year or so after getting better results with it than the K7!! But, slowly I became more familiar with the advanced K7 and now the *istDS rarely sees the light of day

IOW: I'm sure you'll appreciate the K5 once you become good friends

Personally, if I was buying a new camera now, which I'm not (though I'm seriously tempted by the Nex7), I would wait for the K5 replacement. It can't be far off. The K5 is a great camera, but judging by the specs of the K30 (the only thing lacking imo is the top LCD), the K3 or whatever it will be called is going to have to be pretty awesome to sit at the top of the range.

Considering you have nikon lenses, it may cost you less if you upgrade to D7000. It has the same sensor as k5. There is no visible difference in IQ.

Not wishing to sound like a Pentax fanboy but for the current price for which you can buy a K5 (US$850) it seems a far better camera than the D7000 if you need or wish to have, the WR and importantly in-camera NR. Pentax also wrung more out of the sensor than Nikon, though I'm being a little pedantic there.

Of course k-5 achieves more with the same sensor. But if he has some lenses it will be cheaper to change only the body, not the whole system. But both are outstanding cameras.