K-5 ii and sigma 30mm 1.4 vs K30 and smc 31mm 1.8

lato · 12-06-2012, 05:36 AM

Hello
I am going to by some equipment but my budget is limited.
What would you recommend of the following: K-5 ii and sigma 30mm 1.4 or K30 and smc 31mm 1.8?

gtl · 12-06-2012, 05:41 AM

There is the prospect of a FF Pentax coming and the 31mm limited would be FF ready. I don't own the sigma 30mm but the 31mm is fantastic.

VictorDA · 12-06-2012, 05:46 AM

Welcome to the forums!
Personally I would advise to get the cheaper K-30 body and the 31mm Ltd rather than the other way: bodies are updated regularly but fine glass will last for decades.
The only reson I would think otherwise is if you are already experienced and looking for something in particular in the K-5II.
There are other possibilities of course regarding lenses (the DA 35 Ltd Macro is highly regarde and the DA 35 2.4 is very cheap) and bodies (how about a regular K-5? if you can still find one it's almost as cheap as a K-30 and offers specs very close to the K-5II).
Good luck,
Victor

hcc · 12-06-2012, 07:45 AM

I tend to agree with the earlier post. It is hard not to choose the FA31mm. This is a stellar lens.

Have you considered K-5 + FA31mm? It would fit in your budget.

Hope that the comment may help.

Boris · 12-06-2012, 08:03 AM

Originally posted by lato

Hello
I am going to by some equipment but my budget is limited.
What would you recommend of the following: K-5 ii and sigma 30mm 1.4 or K30 and smc 31mm 1.8?

I would recommend K-5 (not II) and FA 35/2.0. The rest of the money you can spend on other activities, e.g. buying some quality photo books or albums, or making framed enlargements of your favorite photographs.

Dirtistasty2 · 12-07-2012, 01:19 PM

Hmm.. tough call. What do you shoot more? The Sigma is better for the lowest of the low light, but is not nearly as good for landscapes and cannot focus as closely as the 31mm limited. If just one lens, the K-30 +31mm for sure as the 31mm is just better overall despite being slower.

As others have mentioned, probably better off with a regular K-5 with 31mm

lato · 12-07-2012, 03:30 PM

Thanks for sharing views and opinions.

I have been reading tests, among others the k-30 test on dpreview
Here I compare picures from k-30, k-5II and K-5IIs.

Is it just my eyes, or dos this comparison show that the k-30 performes very similar to the k-5IIs (including the moire :-)), and actually better (sharper) than the k-5II.
Dos the k-30 have a anti-aliasing filter?

Pentax K-30 Review: Digital Photography Review.

VictorDA · 12-10-2012, 03:48 AM

AFAIK yes, but the sensor is the same in these cameras, that explains the very similar IQ.

RonHendriks1966 · 12-10-2012, 10:48 AM

Didn't read into the K-30, but my guess is that it has the same AA-filter as K-01 (same sensor and processing engine), wich is thinner then on the K-5 (only one layer). So the K-01 is a little sharper then the K-5 from nature. I hear good things about the Sigma lens, but descided for myself to buy the FA31mm and think that was a good choice. So buying the K-30 with FA31mm is a good thing in my opinion. Make a plan on how to upgrade over the years and what kind of pictures your making.

K-01 and FA31mm:

simbon4o · 12-10-2012, 12:25 PM

I can't recommend FA 35 2.0(because I sold mine with huge disappointment), the DA 35 2.4 is the same lens - so again NO!

Sigma 30 1.4 is great lens with best bokeh from all of the lenses in the title. Also the sharpest wide open! 31 Ltd is too expensive but if you believe that you will use in on FF one day and have the money... do it. K30 2.8... well it is one of many pentax lenses who don't deserve the money they are selling for(FA 35 2.0 is one of this group).

If I were you I was going to buy the new sigma 35 1.4 - it is better than 31 Ltd, it is FF compatible, ...

12-06-2012, 05:36 AM	#1
lato New Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2	K-5 ii and sigma 30mm 1.4 vs K30 and smc 31mm 1.8 Hello I am going to by some equipment but my budget is limited. What would you recommend of the following: K-5 ii and sigma 30mm 1.4 or K30 and smc 31mm 1.8?

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12-06-2012, 05:41 AM	#2
gtl Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 349	There is the prospect of a FF Pentax coming and the 31mm limited would be FF ready. I don't own the sigma 30mm but the 31mm is fantastic.

12-06-2012, 05:46 AM	#3
VictorDA Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lyon area, France Posts: 718	Welcome to the forums! Personally I would advise to get the cheaper K-30 body and the 31mm Ltd rather than the other way: bodies are updated regularly but fine glass will last for decades. The only reson I would think otherwise is if you are already experienced and looking for something in particular in the K-5II. There are other possibilities of course regarding lenses (the DA 35 Ltd Macro is highly regarde and the DA 35 2.4 is very cheap) and bodies (how about a regular K-5? if you can still find one it's almost as cheap as a K-30 and offers specs very close to the K-5II). Good luck, Victor

12-06-2012, 07:45 AM	#4
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	I tend to agree with the earlier post. It is hard not to choose the FA31mm. This is a stellar lens. Have you considered K-5 + FA31mm? It would fit in your budget. Hope that the comment may help.

12-06-2012, 08:03 AM	#5
Boris Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Israel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 932	Originally posted by lato Hello I am going to by some equipment but my budget is limited. What would you recommend of the following: K-5 ii and sigma 30mm 1.4 or K30 and smc 31mm 1.8? I would recommend K-5 (not II) and FA 35/2.0. The rest of the money you can spend on other activities, e.g. buying some quality photo books or albums, or making framed enlargements of your favorite photographs.

12-07-2012, 01:19 PM	#6
Dirtistasty2 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 325	Hmm.. tough call. What do you shoot more? The Sigma is better for the lowest of the low light, but is not nearly as good for landscapes and cannot focus as closely as the 31mm limited. If just one lens, the K-30 +31mm for sure as the 31mm is just better overall despite being slower. As others have mentioned, probably better off with a regular K-5 with 31mm

12-07-2012, 03:30 PM	#7
lato New Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Thanks for sharing views and opinions. I have been reading tests, among others the k-30 test on dpreview Here I compare picures from k-30, k-5II and K-5IIs. Is it just my eyes, or dos this comparison show that the k-30 performes very similar to the k-5IIs (including the moire :-)), and actually better (sharper) than the k-5II. Dos the k-30 have a anti-aliasing filter? Pentax K-30 Review: Digital Photography Review.

12-10-2012, 03:48 AM	#8
VictorDA Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lyon area, France Posts: 718	AFAIK yes, but the sensor is the same in these cameras, that explains the very similar IQ.

12-10-2012, 10:48 AM	#9
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Didn't read into the K-30, but my guess is that it has the same AA-filter as K-01 (same sensor and processing engine), wich is thinner then on the K-5 (only one layer). So the K-01 is a little sharper then the K-5 from nature. I hear good things about the Sigma lens, but descided for myself to buy the FA31mm and think that was a good choice. So buying the K-30 with FA31mm is a good thing in my opinion. Make a plan on how to upgrade over the years and what kind of pictures your making. K-01 and FA31mm:

12-10-2012, 12:25 PM	#10
simbon4o Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 258	I can't recommend FA 35 2.0(because I sold mine with huge disappointment), the DA 35 2.4 is the same lens - so again NO! Sigma 30 1.4 is great lens with best bokeh from all of the lenses in the title. Also the sharpest wide open! 31 Ltd is too expensive but if you believe that you will use in on FF one day and have the money... do it. K30 2.8... well it is one of many pentax lenses who don't deserve the money they are selling for(FA 35 2.0 is one of this group). If I were you I was going to buy the new sigma 35 1.4 - it is better than 31 Ltd, it is FF compatible, ...