Engadget K-30 Hands On Review

**ramseybuckeye** · 06-21-2012, 06:27 PM

Pentax K-30 weather-sealed DSLR hands-on with sample photos and video

jonhock · 06-21-2012, 07:53 PM

That's a good solid, honest (I think) review. I don't know if I'd be able to stick my K10d in a fountain though, even if it is weather resistant!

cali92rs · 06-21-2012, 08:27 PM

Nothings better than having a well priced, great bang for the buck camera and sticking a comically overpriced DA* lens on it

selar · 06-21-2012, 08:55 PM

Originally posted by jonhock

if I'd be able to stick my K10d in a fountain though

My Samsung GX 10 (K10D) has been through heavy downpours unscathed, has even been washed under a running tap. The K5 though, is a different story, it got its first taste of rain two weekends ago, and the on/off lever became very difficult to operate, wouldn't go to "off" position at all. I am scared to take it in the rain now, even though on/off switch is okay after flossing.

**crewl1** · 06-21-2012, 09:55 PM

Originally posted by cali92rs

Nothings better than having a well priced, great bang for the buck camera and sticking a comically overpriced DA* lens on it

That looks like a DA 18-135 in the pics to me, not a DA*.

cali92rs · 06-21-2012, 10:13 PM

Originally posted by crewl1

That looks like a DA 18-135 in the pics to me, not a DA*.

I understand that...I was commenting that Pentax makes this great camera for its price while it's lens prices are out of wack.

jk333 · 06-22-2012, 06:19 AM

Originally posted by cali92rs

I understand that...I was commenting that Pentax makes this great camera for its price while it's lens prices are out of wack.

Except that they're not. That's not subjective; every DA* lens is objectively cheaper than its competitor on Amazon.

I think the review was well written. The high-iso comments were a bit much; 12,000 ISO? ha, that'd be pretty cool to use but I could easily use 3200 or even 6400. I would have liked a bit more on the camera's autofocus.

cali92rs · 06-22-2012, 07:26 AM

Originally posted by jk333

Except that they're not. That's not subjective; every DA* lens is objectively cheaper than its competitor on Amazon.

I think the review was well written. The high-iso comments were a bit much; 12,000 ISO? ha, that'd be pretty cool to use but I could easily use 3200 or even 6400. I would have liked a bit more on the camera's autofocus.

Its competitor being the sigma 70-200mm or the Canon 70-200mm f4L? Because both of those are cheaper than the Pentax 60-250mm.

eddie1960 · 06-22-2012, 07:50 AM

Originally posted by cali92rs

Nothings better than having a well priced, great bang for the buck camera and sticking a comically overpriced DA* lens on it

the pictures they posted with the water were not the 50-135 they were the 18-135WR- so the Kit lens

**luftfluss** · 06-22-2012, 10:04 AM

Originally posted by eddie1960

the pictures they posted with the water were not the 50-135 they were the 18-135WR- so the Kit lens

Looking at photos of the K-30 with the 18-135, I can't help but think that the K-30 was designed to work with the 18-135. They look so much of a piece together.

eddie1960 · 06-22-2012, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

Looking at photos of the K-30 with the 18-135, I can't help but think that the K-30 was designed to work with the 18-135. They look so much of a piece together.

agreed they do look good together. a K5 came up locally on CL with the 18-135 for 999 and has been tempting me. it doesn't look as nice as this combo (though for me the K5 is the better cam)

**luftfluss** · 06-22-2012, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by eddie1960

agreed they do look good together. a K5 came up locally on CL with the 18-135 for 999 and has been tempting me. it doesn't look as nice as this combo (though for me the K5 is the better cam)

WOW, that's a really good price!!! Is the seller giving details, like # of shutter actuations?

eddie1960 · 06-22-2012, 10:47 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

WOW, that's a really good price!!! Is the seller giving details, like # of shutter actuations?

nope, I would ask a lot before meeting up
If actuations are good it's a good price, I saw a D700 on ebay today though where the seller stated only 175000 actuations lmao - and they wanted $1800 or so BIN

the thing is not being a huge zoom user the 18-135 only holds limited appeal so it's value to me isn't really much more than my 18-55WR. If it was with a DA21 Or DA70 at that price i would be more tempted (both those lenses sell for about the same as the 18-135WR up here and both are on my short list to add to the bag)

**crewl1** · 06-22-2012, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by eddie1960

a K5 came up locally on CL with the 18-135 for 999 and has been tempting me. it doesn't look as nice as this combo (though for me the K5 is the better cam)

IMO the K-5 and 18-135 were indeed made for each other in looks and performance. The combo is so good together.

StephenHampshire · 06-22-2012, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by eddie1960

agreed they do look good together. a K5 came up locally on CL with the 18-135 for 999 and has been tempting me. it doesn't look as nice as this combo (though for me the K5 is the better cam)

You can't see your own camera when you look through the viewfinder....* .I have the K5 and 18-135 WR combo and they work a treat! Paid £720 less £90 rebate for the body in Nov 11, £349 for the 18-135 in April this year, and pleased with that. The K30 should work just as well and I quite fancy focus peaking as I have a fair bit of manual focus glass.

*unless you are pointing it at a mirror.

06-21-2012, 06:27 PM	#1
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	Engadget K-30 Hands On Review Pentax K-30 weather-sealed DSLR hands-on with sample photos and video

06-21-2012, 08:27 PM	#3
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Nothings better than having a well priced, great bang for the buck camera and sticking a comically overpriced DA* lens on it Last edited by cali92rs; 06-21-2012 at 09:34 PM.

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06-21-2012, 07:53 PM	#2
jonhock Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Pennsylvania, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 420	That's a good solid, honest (I think) review. I don't know if I'd be able to stick my K10d in a fountain though, even if it is weather resistant!

06-21-2012, 08:55 PM	#4
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	Originally posted by jonhock if I'd be able to stick my K10d in a fountain though My Samsung GX 10 (K10D) has been through heavy downpours unscathed, has even been washed under a running tap. The K5 though, is a different story, it got its first taste of rain two weekends ago, and the on/off lever became very difficult to operate, wouldn't go to "off" position at all. I am scared to take it in the rain now, even though on/off switch is okay after flossing.

06-21-2012, 09:55 PM	#5
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Originally posted by cali92rs Nothings better than having a well priced, great bang for the buck camera and sticking a comically overpriced DA* lens on it That looks like a DA 18-135 in the pics to me, not a DA*.

06-21-2012, 10:13 PM	#6
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by crewl1 That looks like a DA 18-135 in the pics to me, not a DA*. I understand that...I was commenting that Pentax makes this great camera for its price while it's lens prices are out of wack.

06-22-2012, 06:19 AM	#7
jk333 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: bev Posts: 181	Originally posted by cali92rs I understand that...I was commenting that Pentax makes this great camera for its price while it's lens prices are out of wack. Except that they're not. That's not subjective; every DA* lens is objectively cheaper than its competitor on Amazon. I think the review was well written. The high-iso comments were a bit much; 12,000 ISO? ha, that'd be pretty cool to use but I could easily use 3200 or even 6400. I would have liked a bit more on the camera's autofocus.

06-22-2012, 07:26 AM	#8
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by jk333 Except that they're not. That's not subjective; every DA* lens is objectively cheaper than its competitor on Amazon. I think the review was well written. The high-iso comments were a bit much; 12,000 ISO? ha, that'd be pretty cool to use but I could easily use 3200 or even 6400. I would have liked a bit more on the camera's autofocus. Its competitor being the sigma 70-200mm or the Canon 70-200mm f4L? Because both of those are cheaper than the Pentax 60-250mm.

06-22-2012, 07:50 AM	#9
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by cali92rs Nothings better than having a well priced, great bang for the buck camera and sticking a comically overpriced DA* lens on it the pictures they posted with the water were not the 50-135 they were the 18-135WR- so the Kit lens

06-22-2012, 10:04 AM	#10
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by eddie1960 the pictures they posted with the water were not the 50-135 they were the 18-135WR- so the Kit lens Looking at photos of the K-30 with the 18-135, I can't help but think that the K-30 was designed to work with the 18-135. They look so much of a piece together.

06-22-2012, 10:18 AM	#11
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by luftfluss Looking at photos of the K-30 with the 18-135, I can't help but think that the K-30 was designed to work with the 18-135. They look so much of a piece together. agreed they do look good together. a K5 came up locally on CL with the 18-135 for 999 and has been tempting me. it doesn't look as nice as this combo (though for me the K5 is the better cam)

06-22-2012, 10:38 AM	#12
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by eddie1960 agreed they do look good together. a K5 came up locally on CL with the 18-135 for 999 and has been tempting me. it doesn't look as nice as this combo (though for me the K5 is the better cam) WOW, that's a really good price!!! Is the seller giving details, like # of shutter actuations?

06-22-2012, 10:47 AM	#13
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by luftfluss WOW, that's a really good price!!! Is the seller giving details, like # of shutter actuations? nope, I would ask a lot before meeting up If actuations are good it's a good price, I saw a D700 on ebay today though where the seller stated only 175000 actuations lmao - and they wanted $1800 or so BIN the thing is not being a huge zoom user the 18-135 only holds limited appeal so it's value to me isn't really much more than my 18-55WR. If it was with a DA21 Or DA70 at that price i would be more tempted (both those lenses sell for about the same as the 18-135WR up here and both are on my short list to add to the bag)

06-22-2012, 11:07 AM	#14
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Originally posted by eddie1960 a K5 came up locally on CL with the 18-135 for 999 and has been tempting me. it doesn't look as nice as this combo (though for me the K5 is the better cam) IMO the K-5 and 18-135 were indeed made for each other in looks and performance. The combo is so good together.

06-22-2012, 11:44 AM	#15
StephenHampshire Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Winchester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,523	Originally posted by eddie1960 agreed they do look good together. a K5 came up locally on CL with the 18-135 for 999 and has been tempting me. it doesn't look as nice as this combo (though for me the K5 is the better cam) You can't see your own camera when you look through the viewfinder....* .I have the K5 and 18-135 WR combo and they work a treat! Paid £720 less £90 rebate for the body in Nov 11, £349 for the 18-135 in April this year, and pleased with that. The K30 should work just as well and I quite fancy focus peaking as I have a fair bit of manual focus glass. *unless you are pointing it at a mirror.