pentaprism vs pentamirror

Hello

This is further to my recent post about live view and/or an eyepiece magnifier.

The K30 is now absurdly cheap via SRS Systems. I am tempted only because of the pentaprism. I am not bothered by the higher pixel count or the weather proofing.

I ask if there is really a significant difference between mirror and prism.

Many thanks

Mac

A pentaprism finder is brighter and clearer. It's definitely to be preferred.

Thanks John

Have you personally reviewed this?

Mac

I've not personally reviewed the K30, but I have personally used pentamirror and pentaprism finders from Pentax and many others.

Thank you, I am looking for first hand experience

I tried the K-30 in a store and felt the viewfinder was definitely brighter (and larger?) than my K-r. I wouldn't have bought the K-30 for that improvement alone, but the weatherproofing, amongst other factors, makes the difference for me.

I agree with Milamber. I have tried the K30 in store, and the viewfinder was very similar to my K7, as I expected. I upgraded from a K200D and the move from mirror to prism was definitely positive, if not earth shattering. Why not pop into Jessops, they have all the cameras to play with?

(BTW, I have a tenpa 1.35x magnifier with no DSLR to use it on - if you would like to try and possibly buy, drop me a line!

Hi,

I had a KX and then KR before my K5 this year.

The K5 pentaprism is much brighter for manual focus with even slow kit lenses. It doesn't seem to get dust in it as with the cheaper mirrors in the unsealed entry models. The K30 will be a big improvement I'm sure. No method is a bright or as large as a 35mm film viewfinder or the digital equivalent.

Above advice to go play with the cameras is sound.