KX v K30

From an image quality point of view is there much difference between a KX and a K30?
OK the KX is 12MP and the K30 is 16MP so on paper there should be a 25% increase in image quality or am I missing something here?
I have read reviews of other makes which now offer 24MP but which say that there is not a marked increase in quality over 16MP.

Hello

There will probably more technically based responses than mine but here are my observations on this matter (I apologise if you already know what I have typed)

Purely print size or ability to crop more are the main but not the only areas resolution helps - macro shots etc where you can crop the shot and retain a lot of detail

I have not owned a kx but do have a K10 - the 16mp sensor of the k5/k30 is far better at high iso's and the amount of information in the shadow areas but the K10 is still a decent camera

Image quality is a combination of subject matter, available light, technique and the lens so I would not put too much reliance on the camera.

The K30 seems to produce excellent results but that said I have seen many great shots from kx's - my shots from the k5 are not 60% better than the ones from the K10

I nearly forgot to mention - the 24mp apsc sensor by Sony is nowhere near as good at high iso as the 16mp one in the k30/k5/k01 is

Regards



Stu

.. .. you must be joking dear fellow

.. no, I'AM joking of course .. I don't think 25% more pixels would involve 25% more IQ; .. otherwise today DSLRs would be equipped with more than 100px sensors

Diminishing returns....

Quote:

Image quality is a combination of subject matter, available light, technique and the lens so I would not put too much reliance on the camera.

OK so the 18-55 kit lens I have is f3.5 - 5.6 and I take moving subjects so to maintain a fast shutter speed sometimes I have to up the ISO setting.
If I get a f2.8 lens, use the wider apertures and keep the ISO low I'm going to get sharper results just as with film.
I know dof will be reduced but I want to stop motion.

Photography is a 'suck it and see' subject...the key to successful images is practice and knowing your camera, and being able to assess the lighting conditions in front of you. Swapping camera goes part of the way to changing just one variable. At the moment I am using the Kx as my primary camera with the kit 18-55mm lens. I am attempting to learn and extract as much out of this combination as possible by photographing the same subject matter over and over until I have a full understanding of the camera and lens settings and mother natures lighting variations...and I am loving it! Fast action photography is challenging but I would exhaust your current cameras potential before paying out for another model of camera. Many throw money at the hobby in an attempt to achieve perfection while all the time the means to success was in their hands... sorry if I have suggested the obvious, just my own thoughts on the matter.

David, I think you have a valid point. A great lesson can also be learned by hanging a manual lens on the front of a DSLR. It makes you think about why you do what you do and of course unlike the days of film the results and therefore adjustments are instant and virtually free.

IQ/noise/resolution at high ISO is important to me so would I see an appreciable difference between the KX and the K30/K5/K5II/K5IIs ?

I have the K-X and I just bought the K-30 yesterday, primarily for the weather sealing as oposed to image quality - I have always been pleased with the image quality of the KX.

From first impressions the K-30 image quality does seem very good, In RAW I was able to correct the exposure of ISO 1600 & 3200 shoots by 1-2 stops and still retain a reasonable amount detail.

ISO 3200 +1 Stop correction




The camera is great value at the moment

I have the K-x and K-5. The K-x is a fantastic camera and constantly amazes me with the image quality it produces. The K-5 is better and returns more consistent results, particularly when trying to extract maximum dynamic range from an image, but there's less difference than most people might expect. I think there's more to be gained from careful matching of lenses to camera and from getting the most out of your glass. Having said that, the K-30 will be better, but not by very much and certainly not by 25%. Take a look at Nuri's images (Senn) shot with the K-x - they are simply superb.

Regards
David

I didn't realise until today that the K-x was also available in 'fetching' pink...radical!
If the K30 is marketed as an 'entry level' camera, does that relegate the Kx or indeed any other perceived lesser model below the K30 to the confines of a point'n'press category.
Upon such a categorisation, this would suggest that the Guinea pig image simply couldn't have been taken with any humble model below the Pentax 640. I thus suggest instead that the photographer has clearly mugged a hapless member of the paparazzi and stolen his mega-bucks Nikon/Cannon/Pentax 640 'pro' rig in order to take the photograph as-and lets get real here kids- no punitive 'entry level' based camera like a Kx or K30 could possibly have facilitated the production of such a pin sharp and perfect image...
...Upon such unworthiness, let us all now worship at the alter of the marketing guru.

I am happy with my cherry red K30. Long as It does what I want I don't care. Even iconic photo's were taken with a device that went 'BANG!' and the photo's were good.

Bye the way, what is that device photographers used to hold above their heads to frighten people?

A gun?

i traded my KX for a K30 last month, the weather sealing was the main point (and the price of the K30 being ridiculously low), I havent shot anything yet (unfortunately), but the two main differences I see:

- K30 is MUCH bigger/heavier than the Kx, didnt i'd care but actually i do
- K30 has 2 dial buttons, with the green button I think this will be great (in Av mode, using one dial for Aperture, one for overwriting ISO and the green button to go back to Auto ISO)

that's my 2 pence for now..

to be honest upgrading is always nice and makes me excited about the camera, but not sure there will be noticeable differences in terms of quality...

Cherry red? That's quite a rare colour, I think I've only seen them advertised in Japan in anything other than black, white and blue. I really like the cherry red!