K5 or K30

Well, I was just about to make a monumentous decision to invest in a K5 and then what happens? The K30 appears. I can't really see much difference between the two and don't know what to do.

I was going to upgrade from my K20 as I fancied the better AF and low light/low noise performance.

What are the relative pros and cons of each?

Andy

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It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog!

It becomes quite difficult to decide in some ways. The price is similar and the K30 represents the next step in the technology, whereas the K-5 awaits updating but retains the advantage of maybe sturdier construction and the magnesium alloy body. It is also marginally faster in terms of continuous shooting.

It's a personal choice, but I really preferred the handling of the K-r to the K-5, but had to go to the K-5 to get the weather resistance. That's not a problem, but a K-r with WR seems to be what the K30 is, very roughly speaking.

I would still probably opt for the K-5, just, and it's really only that terrific blue finish that might make me dither. But a blue finish doesn't help make better or worse images, so I might overcome the "I want!" and go for the K-5 anyway.

Of course I'm talking about handling here and if we're talking about image quality then probably it makes no or very little difference.

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Best regards, John

If I was in the position of having to make this decision, I'd wait a little while, at least until the initial reviews and experiences come out, and just as importantly, I'd had a chance to handle one.

No one has significant experience of the K30 yet, so any view will be based on specs (and speculation!) alone.

There's a good chance the AF is better but how much better is impossible to say. The preview at DPreview looks like a good comparison.

Personally I'd miss the top LCD, and I'd need to handle it for a bit to decide where I liked the mode selector wheel on the opposite side of the camera. If it had only had the one thumb-wheel like the K-r and previous, it would have ruled it out for me, but it has both, which is a significant improvement, and makes it a less obvious decision.

I suspect I'll be lusting after the K-5 replacement when it comes out though, given that I have one already, and don't need to make this rather tough decision.

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Pentax K-5, K10D, DA17-70, DA18-55 MkI, DA55-300, FA50 F1.4, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, A400 F5.6 (AF), 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
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Wait for the K5 replacement although it will cost more. However, just think what Pentax may have come up with, the K5 is already a great camera and if they improve on the K5 I think it could be a camera that will be very special.

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Fletcher8. Always aiming to improve

I've had a K-5 for a week. If I were you I'd probably do the deal SRS Microsystems are offerering on the K-30 - I went out and bought almost everything they're bundling in with the K-30 and so it represents a big saving.

I love the K-5 but I suspect I'd have loved the K-30 and for the price I think the deal's unbeatable.

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~Pentax K-5, DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR, DA 35mm f/2.4 AL, DA 55-300mm f4.0-5.8 ED, FA 50mm f/1.4, M 50mm f/1.8 - flickr

I'm in a similar position to you in that I've been considering a K5 recently as an upgrade to my GX20. Personally I've decided to wait to see what the replacement brings.

If you want it today then the K5 is your only option, if you wait for the K30 then the K5 replacement may have been announced, at which point the K5 may drop further in price.

If both the K5 and K30 were available right now then I'd still be inclined to go for the K5 because of the better build quality, top LCD screen, more controls which allow quicker access to certain functions.

I'd also add that no matter how much it's improved I will never be interested in video on my dSLR camera, if I was then I think the K30 may be a winner as I think I read it now has autofocus.

If I buy a K30, it will be in black.

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My images here

Plenty of rumours about.



/////////////Quote 2////////////// (initial posting in this forum.)
#771 by "Sales Rep of Pentax" 05/23/2012(Wed) 13:24
*Pentax still have something to be done with APS-C.
*All models should be launched as of this autumn.
*(K-5's) replacement outperform 60D & D7000, and will catches up with 7D & 300D. (no mention what in terms of)
*Both resolving power & high ISO capability outperform K-5. (He doesn’t say “pixel”, literally resolving power)
*Nothing detailed for Y2013 has been determined yet.
//////////////Unquote 2//////////////

//////////////Quote 1////////////// (sorry this is multiple posting (on K30’s) but quoting again fyi)
#167 & #170 by "Sales Rep of Pentax" 05/17/2012(Thu) 03:45
*2 more models are upcoming.
*K-5 will be discontinued after K30 launched.
*K-5 price will go up (=> in Japan market)
*18 colors (=> no indication which model but assuming K30 in that context)
*The next one is the low price one which has been longed and expected. it will be with unperverted evolution.
*A compact one is upcoming.
*BTW I'm just a sales rep (responding to questions from others "You are actually working for development team, right?")
*K-5 replacement has unperverted evolutions also known as "brush up”. It doesn’t have what you guys are concerning about.
*The last one's image will have obvious difference which assaults into C&N's area. You will immediately see the difference.
//////////////Unquote 1//////////////

From PentaxForums.com: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/187077-quotes-sales-rep-pe...

Best regards

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cameradextrous

If the K-30 is all its cracked up to be, I think I'd go for that. But we won't know until its been released. Nor do we know if there will be teething problems.

So, I'd hang on, and get real life experiences from the K-30. If you need to make the choice now, then it has to be the K5, which is a fine camera.

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Alan
PPG
Flickr

Given how close the prices are at the moment it is a hard choice.

Better construction, better battery life, more direct controls and top LCD (K-5)
Slightly cheaper, smaller/lighter, slightly better IQ (going by the K-01 IQ) and suspected better AF.

If I was buying now I'd go for the K-30. I am not all that particular on the top LCD, all the controls I need are on the K-30 as well (I can live with some menu digging for the rest) and any drop in size/weight is a bonus for me. Pentaprism and two dials and weather sealing are the only things that I need from higher end models that most mid/lower end cameras do not have but the K-30 does so done deal.

The one thing that would bother me is the battery life. I still don't get half as many out of the K-5 as I used to get with the D7K and the K-30 has a smaller battery. I'd just buy a couple of batteries and be done.

I do have a K-5 but I will probably buy a K-30 for the better AF/IQ and smaller size.

As far as the K-5 replacement goes the only two areas I can see that Pentax having quite a bit of room for improvement is battery life and AF sophistication. I wouldn't hold of a purchase awaiting the upgrade of the K-5.

Value for money, I'll go for the K30 or wait for the K5 replacement

Oso

I've just (yesterday) got a K-5 so I have spent some time thinking about this, and although the K-30 has some nice specs, I can't see anything that it has that is significantly better than the K-5 (except possibly AF tracking, but that's a bit of an unknown at the moment), but given that they are currently the same price, it does have some things missing. The big one for me being the lack of controls - the switches for AE and AF modes, the ISO button etc. but also the 14-bit vs 12-bit ADC which is going to affect image quality. Also the K-30 is horribly ugly

I reckon the K-5 replacement is going to be more interesting, but I doubt it's going to come out for a few months, and I would expect it to cost ~£1000 rather than £700 which rules it out for the time being.

Of course, all of the above is probably just me trying to justify my purchase!

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Simon

My online scrapbook: http://smxc.co.uk

Gratuitous Flickr Link

I too very recently upgraded to a K5, reluctantly trading in my K20D--couldn't afford to keep it. Better build quality,top plate LCD and sensor qualities plus quieter shutter swung it for moi. I do miss the bulk and handling of the K20D, i find it difficult not to get my fingers on the K5 rear LCD. I don't regret the upgrade, cos there will always be a better spec camera around the corner! Surely its about getting the most out of what model you have and taking pictures,mind you more glass from Pentax is eagerly awaited. From a personal point of view, video is not a requirement for me- have never used it and hardly ever use live view.But, Top Marks to Pentax for producing a model that it appears everyone wants.All they need now is the K300, a Mark 2 K5 and a new Flagship model.They don't need to stretch resources and have a 12 model line up, just good cameras at each level and refine them as required.Any one looking for a good DSLR would be foolish not to consider Pentax so improved marketing from Ricoh/Pentax is a must and that will benefit all of us in the long run... Tony

I think the K-5 is just a little bit more expensive at the moment. 14-bit RAW is worth the extra cash, IMO. On the other hand, when the K-30 comes down in price it might be a different matter. I doubt the K-5 will come down any further.

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My Flickr • Pentax K-5 • K-5 II • Sigma 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6 DC HSM • Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD ASL • SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 ED [IF] SDM • SMC Pentax-DA 55-300mm F/4-5.8 ED • SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] WR • Vivitar 100mm F/3.5 Macro AF • Metz Mecablitz 58 AF-2

Surprised by some of the opinions here, IMO unless you want to shoot video the K-5 is a no brainer and remains one of the best buys in photography, the K-30 seems great but will be a year or two before it offers similar value and the K-5 replacement will undoubtedly be better but a lot more expensive

In addition to all the benefits given above...

The K-5 has an ISO button next to the shutter (big deal IMO)

Bracketing is limited on the K-30

No ISO 80 on the K-30

Only 1/6000 sec shutter on the K-30

Buffer probably smaller (can’t remember off hand)

K-5 weighs 10g more if this is really an issue maybe leave the lens cap at home, size is the same give or take a mm

K-5 remains one of the best looking dslrs ever made (highly subjective)

I've just noticed that the K30 has a focal plane indicator mark which slightly surprises me.

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Ken