[Class A]

An interesting Nikon D7000 dissection appears to demonstrate that the K-5's built quality is much higher in terms of the magnesium alloy body and the many weather seals.

I would not have thought that the difference is that big.

[Spodeworld]

That may be the case...but as a Nikon D7000 owner, although it feels very solid, I don't really think of it as a camera that I would bring out in inclement weather, like I would my K20D. The image quality and the technology in it is fabulous though (...I'm not looking to start a K-5 vs. D7000 war though...as I know the K-5 is awesome too).

[JinDesu]

And to consider that there are a few references saying how the K-30's sealing is as good or slightly better than the k-5...

It's nice to have affordable good weather sealing. I didn't have as much fun using my umbrella and a k-x yesterday, because of the umbrella:




Made me want a k-5/k-30 and a DA*55 or a DA 18-135 so bad...

[Docrwm]

And to consider that there are a few references saying how the K-30's sealing is as good or slightly better than the k-5...

It's nice to have affordable good weather sealing. I didn't have as much fun using my umbrella and a k-x yesterday, because of the umbrella:




Made me want a k-5/k-30 and a DA*55 or a DA 18-135 so bad...

The K-30 seals are essentially a 2 year newer version of the K-5 seals. I had a long talk with the Pentax rep about them and the take away was that the K-30 has the same attention to detail and depth of seals that the K-5 does but that the materials in the K-30 benefit from both the lessons learned with the K-5 and advances in materials over the intervening 2 year period. So, they may be a bit better but incrementally better.

[JinDesu]

The K-30 seals are essentially a 2 year newer version of the K-5 seals. I had a long talk with the Pentax rep about them and the take away was that the K-30 has the same attention to detail and depth of seals that the K-5 does but that the materials in the K-30 benefit from both the lessons learned with the K-5 and advances in materials over the intervening 2 year period. So, they may be a bit better but incrementally better.

Still awesome in a sub $1000 camera, especially considering the amount of abuse I've seen k-5's through.

[Docrwm]

Still awesome in a sub $1000 camera, especially considering the amount of abuse I've seen k-5's through.

Absolutely. I asked at the local camera store about weather sealed cameras from other lines and the General Manager said that there isn't one at the Mid-Level other than the Pentax. No one else offers ANY weather sealing below the ProSumer level and many of those are what I call Fake WR cameras with only a few seals but nothing like what the K-5 and K-30 have.

[JinDesu]

Absolutely. I asked at the local camera store about weather sealed cameras from other lines and the General Manager said that there isn't one at the Mid-Level other than the Pentax. No one else offers ANY weather sealing below the ProSumer level and many of those are what I call Fake WR cameras with only a few seals but nothing like what the K-5 and K-30 have.

Well, after seeing this D7000's sealing...

I wonder how the 7D/60D compares

[Docrwm]

Well, after seeing this D7000's sealing...

I wonder how the 7D/60D compares

Take a look at the diagrams and transparent CAD images of weather sealing to see if the camera is "really" weather sealed. The image used for the K-30 is essentially the same in most particulars as the K-5 (with the obvious differences for ports that are moved, not present,etc.) and shows 70+ places where seals are employed. Try finding a similar image for many of the ones I think of as "fake" WR, they aren't there.

The illustration of the weather sealing on the K-30 body.