[nzbk10]

I'm moving up from a K-r to either a K-30 or a K-5 IIs. I believe some forum members have upgraded from a K-5 or K-30 to the K-5 IIs.
Is the sharpness of the K-5 IIs worth the higher price?

Thanks.

[Na Horuk]

Keep in mind there are other differences as well. Like, the K-30 has focus peaking and more video options, the K-5IIs has more higer-tier features and records more data per photo. You can look at the camera comparison tool on this forum or search for one of the many other threads on this topic. If you've been using the K-r for a long time, you probably know the basics well enough to get a "flagship" camera like the K-5. But either of these cameras should offer some advantages over the K-r, like newer technology, the better sensor and WR. There is also quite a bit of a difference in their price. If you want an overall improvement in technology, get the K-30. If you want the very best that Pentax is offering right now, get the K-5IIs. Doubt you will be disappointed by either of these Good luck!

[Kerrowdown]

I'd go for the K-5 IIs, it was my understanding the price difference is not that great against the K-5 II, go on spoil yourself.

[Ash]

The K-5 IIs will make the most difference in IQ if paired with the sharpest of lenses. Buying the K-5 IIs to use it with kit lenses wouldn't make too much sense IMO.

[Sandy Hancock]

Is the sharpness of the K-5 IIs worth the higher price?

I don't have a K-30, but I do have a K-01, which shares most of the things which matter when it comes to IQ.
In the next day or so, I will shoot some comparisons between it and the K-5 IIs with the DA*55 and get back to you.

[interested_observer]

There are several differences across this range of K5 sensors.

• K30/K-01 - Essentially the same sensor as the K5, but the pixel depth is limited to 12 bits. This will make a slight difference in the dynamic range of shadows, etc. when compared to a K5/K5II/K5IIs (14 bit pixel depth). The question is can you tell the difference - probably not with out going to 100+% pixel peeping. I am guessing that if you do a lot of HDR, the additional 2 bits may also help out some. However, these (K30/K-01) does have the focus peaking and better video than that of the K5/K5II/K5IIs.

• K5IIs vs the K5/K5II/K30/K-01 - the K5IIs has the AA (anti ailaising filter) removed. The removal has been reported to add about 8% of sharpness/resolution back in to the image. However, to realize this additional increase, you need the best gla$$, as in the Limited Lenses, the * lenses, the Zei$$ ZK lenses, etc.

• The S Is for Subtle: The Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs, Head to Head - DigitalCameraInfo.com

• K5/K30/K-01 vs K5II/K5IIs - The K5II/K5IIs (ev -3)offers faster AF focusing in much darker environments than that of the K5/K30/K-01 (ev -1).

The problem is that the newer K5II/K5IIs does not have all of the enhancements. The enhancements are split across the three sets of cameras, where each set has a few, but not all of them.

[mpmetro]

I actually find the K30 to be sharper and have less noise in certain situations. Sure the k5, k5II and K5iis have 14bit which is slightly better for dynamic range, but I think in terms of sharpness, k30 seems better. For higher iso's 3200 and above, it seems the k5 variants have lower noise, but iso's that high are rarely used anyway. Check out the comparison images at imaging resource. I had heard somewhere that it was possible the K30 is sharpening or removing noise even from RAW files, while the K5 variants have a more raw, raw file.

Here are some (k5ii-s on left, k30 on right) @ iso 800

[sergysergy]

If all the settings are the same I am impressed; at first I thought the k30 pictures were the ones on the left.

[GlennG]

Here are some (k5ii-s on left, k30 on right) @ iso 800

Greetings, friend! Quite impressive photos, K-30 being very sharp and very clean. Did you take those? The subjects look like those from Imaging Resource.
Thanks, Glenn

[Ash]

See this forum's own K-5 IIs review on sharpness and you can make up your own mind about what the AA filter does.

[mpmetro]

Greetings, friend! Quite impressive photos, K-30 being very sharp and very clean. Did you take those? The subjects look like those from Imaging Resource.
Thanks, Glenn

Those are from imaging resource. I had a k30, but now I have a K5 again. If the K30 had a quieter shutter like the k5, I would go back to the k30 for its sharper photos.

[Ash]

Here's another resource on the difference between the two: Studio shot comparison: Digital Photography Review

[Ash]

And a good comparison test between the K-5 Iis and K30 had been done here: First Impression with K-5IIs, and Quick Comparison with K-30
The nod was given to the IIs over the K30 for its sharpness.

[IDude]

Here's another resource on the difference between the two: Studio shot comparison: Digital Photography Review

Try to switch comparison tool from JPEG to RAW and sharpness is about the same. I guess K-30 has a better JPEG engine, may be.

[jbinpg]

I have had my IIs for a few months now. A few things of note compared to the K-5 classic:

- I can crop much tighter into the shot before it falls apart.
- I can apply much more USM sharpening before it falls apart but I rarely want to since it is so sharp SOOC. In fact, I use very little sharpening for non-astro photos.
- I can use longer exposure times with my O-GPS1 unit for astro work before I see star trailing. I assume the lack of the AA filter means the total sensor package mass that needs to be shifted is less and there is less momentum to overcome.

Jack