I bought a K30 as an upgrade from a K200D in late November. It was worth buying for the better low light performance, higher ISO speeds and especially for the focus peaking with manual lenses, which is fantastic.

The current price of the K30, for what it offers, is outrageously low. Even though I love the K200D, I would definitely have regretted not buying the K30. Go for it ..........

Andrew

A Chinon 28mm f2.8 is my most used lens. I also use a Sigma 24mm f2.8 SuperWide II and a Pentax SMC-M 50mm f/1.7 quite a bit too.


Andrew

I updated the K30 firmware a couple of weeks back - worked fine, first time.

FWIW, the OS on my desktop is Windoze 7

Andrew

No - the only RAW format is DNG.

Andrew

Studying photos using the image comparators on the Imaging Resource and DPReview websites has convinced me that the experimental error in their testing regimes is greater than the difference in image quality of the cameras under test.

If the Imaging Resource test team cannot squeeze an obviously better JPEG from a K5-IIs than from a K30 of an identical target under controlled conditions, then I feel justified in concluding that my chances of doing that in the real world are small.

Andrew

No, that would be the K-5IIS-XR3i-Turbo-Nutter-Bastard MK2

Andrew

Try comparing the K5-IIs with the K30 (just humour me for a minute or two). Using the full-size image for the ISO100 shots, look at the lager bottle or the circular calculator in the bottom right-hand corner of the image. The difference is NOT subtle. It is also not what many might expect.

Even though I have just bought a K30, I doubt that it can better the Pentax flagship camera in the real world - so I am forced to conclude that the Image Resource methodology is not quite so good as many folks imagine (or is it???? ).

Andrew

You could consider getting a D-BH109 AA BATTERY HOLDER (clone) off any number of Far East suppliers on Ebay. They hold 4xAA batteries which last twice as long as the standard battery.

I bought one a couple of weeks back - looks OK, works fine - only about £7 delivered.

Andrew

I'm thinking of using a UV filter if/when I go out in the rain. I doubt that adding the filter will affect the IQ of a rain spattered lens - and I'm hoping that, along with a camera cover, it will improve the weather resistance of a K30 and non-WR lens to at least the level that I'd get with a WR lens and no rain cover.

Andrew

I can see that you two are so enthused that you need to see more of this guy ...............

His 28 minute review of the Tamron 17-50mm is here

Or you can watch even more here



Have fun
Andrew