Pentax K-30: Cyrstal or Silky?

Ryan Trevisol · 06-25-2012, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

I'm having trouble visualizing the choices. Is my white K-x silky or shiny?

Agreed. Now that we have good pictures, though, It would seem that the K-x was less shiny than the crystal, but the "silky" finish looks positively matte. Personally, I think the crystal is WAY too shiny, and the matte, while it looks nice, is going to gloss up with the oils and friction of being handled.

As much as I love the way matte-finished things look, I've had a matte-finish guitar, and it turned a kind of sickly glossy wherever my arms rested. And for the strong of stomach, look what happens after a couple months of usage on a matte-black macbook: Ugh

No matter what kind of next-gen plastic finish they use, I'm afraid something you grip with your hands (even if you wash your hands before using it), and put up to your face is going to get sebaceous gland oil on it. That can be wiped off, but over time, any friction will polish the matte texture off to a semi-gloss. That includes friction of your hands on the plastic, not to mention the microfiber cloth you'll have to wipe it down with because of the aforementioned oils.

Personally, when I show up to a paying photo gig with my white camera (especially with my big black lens and/or flash), I feel like it doesn't look super professional, plus it looks a little patchy. I just don't like the way it looks any more. I'm really looking forward to having a black camera when I get either the K-5 or the K-30.

Interestingly, if you look at the press images of US-spec K-30's, the black one looks like the typical texture:

And the white one looks like the same not-so-glossy finish we've had on the K-x and K-r.

Unsinkable II · 06-25-2012, 09:56 PM

The Orange Silky reminds me of a British claymation character called Morph:

The Black Crystal would suit Darth Vader!

schufosi777 · 06-25-2012, 11:13 PM - **1 Like**

Still nothing at Deodeo and Kojima in Kitakyushu. Pentax I cycled a long way to see the K-30. Bic Camera is one hours hard cycling away so might try there. Pentax certainly is the camera for adventurers and explorers. You have to be one to find one.

mickey · 06-26-2012, 01:40 AM - **1 Like**

Are the photos I posted showing up for eveyone?
I linked them from tinypic, but when I checked this thread on the PC at work they didn't show.
I can see them at home.

schufosi777 · 06-26-2012, 02:22 AM

The ones from Yodabashi yesterday? They are showing up just fine on my PC. Wish the other stores had the K-30 on display like that.

Unsinkable II · 06-26-2012, 05:06 AM

Originally posted by mickey

Are the photos I posted showing up for eveyone?
I linked them from tinypic, but when I checked this thread on the PC at work they didn't show.
I can see them at home.

Perfect. Many thanks for posting them.

mickey · 06-26-2012, 06:00 AM

Ah, ok. Good.
I'll try and get some photos of all the colourways for comparison in the next day or 2.

pentax user · 06-26-2012, 07:05 AM

it would be great if it comes in camo

gorski · 06-26-2012, 01:05 PM

Silky orange one would really look nice next to our new Kuka robot (KUKA youBot Store)

**RKKS08** · 06-26-2012, 03:04 PM

@ mickey

Maybe the browser of your computer at work is configured to automatically use a secure connection, if offered by the website.

The homepage of this forum also has an address with https protocol, but in this mode does only support forum features.
Pictures sometimes do not show, and for a couple of other items you need to have your own certificate signed.

As far as I know, externally stored pictures may not show. You must use the http protocol to see them.

EDIT: Adam had a thread about the subject. I think it was called "HTTPS now supported"

mickey · 06-26-2012, 05:49 PM

^ Yeah, thanks mate.
A lot of social media sites are blocked at work and google, yahoo, photobucket and the like.
I don't post photos from work, but was wondering why tinypic links didn't show.
Not too much of a problem as everything is fine to see at home.

mickey · 06-27-2012, 02:47 AM

The rest of the photos:

mickey · 06-27-2012, 02:50 AM

And finally:

magkelly · 06-27-2012, 03:11 AM

They're all great but I particularly like the dark cherry red crystal and the crystals in dark olive and dark violet. I want that dark cherry red. That had better be on Amazon when I go to order mine, sigh...ME WANT....and I can't afford to import one....

anthony mazzeri · 06-27-2012, 03:13 AM

Thanks Mickey. The silky versions do look quite shiny from this higher angle. The olive one especially looks lighter green than it does in your previous pic. Even so I still lean towards that one being my preference. The observations about the grey one are spot on, it does look quite good. Not faux silver or metallic, but grey in its own right.

06-26-2012, 03:04 PM	#55
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	@ mickey Maybe the browser of your computer at work is configured to automatically use a secure connection, if offered by the website. The homepage of this forum also has an address with https protocol, but in this mode does only support forum features. Pictures sometimes do not show, and for a couple of other items you need to have your own certificate signed. As far as I know, externally stored pictures may not show. You must use the http protocol to see them. EDIT: Adam had a thread about the subject. I think it was called "HTTPS now supported" Last edited by RKKS08; 06-26-2012 at 03:12 PM.

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06-25-2012, 07:12 AM	#46
Ryan Trevisol Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 312	Originally posted by audiobomber I'm having trouble visualizing the choices. Is my white K-x silky or shiny? Agreed. Now that we have good pictures, though, It would seem that the K-x was less shiny than the crystal, but the "silky" finish looks positively matte. Personally, I think the crystal is WAY too shiny, and the matte, while it looks nice, is going to gloss up with the oils and friction of being handled. As much as I love the way matte-finished things look, I've had a matte-finish guitar, and it turned a kind of sickly glossy wherever my arms rested. And for the strong of stomach, look what happens after a couple months of usage on a matte-black macbook: Ugh No matter what kind of next-gen plastic finish they use, I'm afraid something you grip with your hands (even if you wash your hands before using it), and put up to your face is going to get sebaceous gland oil on it. That can be wiped off, but over time, any friction will polish the matte texture off to a semi-gloss. That includes friction of your hands on the plastic, not to mention the microfiber cloth you'll have to wipe it down with because of the aforementioned oils. Personally, when I show up to a paying photo gig with my white camera (especially with my big black lens and/or flash), I feel like it doesn't look super professional, plus it looks a little patchy. I just don't like the way it looks any more. I'm really looking forward to having a black camera when I get either the K-5 or the K-30. Interestingly, if you look at the press images of US-spec K-30's, the black one looks like the typical texture: And the white one looks like the same not-so-glossy finish we've had on the K-x and K-r.

06-25-2012, 09:56 PM	#47
Unsinkable II Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,352	The Orange Silky reminds me of a British claymation character called Morph: The Black Crystal would suit Darth Vader!

06-25-2012, 11:13 PM - 1 Like	#48
schufosi777 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitakyushu Posts: 186	Still nothing at Deodeo and Kojima in Kitakyushu. Pentax I cycled a long way to see the K-30. Bic Camera is one hours hard cycling away so might try there. Pentax certainly is the camera for adventurers and explorers. You have to be one to find one.

06-26-2012, 01:40 AM - 1 Like	#49
mickey Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Are the photos I posted showing up for eveyone? I linked them from tinypic, but when I checked this thread on the PC at work they didn't show. I can see them at home.

06-26-2012, 02:22 AM	#50
schufosi777 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitakyushu Posts: 186	The ones from Yodabashi yesterday? They are showing up just fine on my PC. Wish the other stores had the K-30 on display like that.

06-26-2012, 05:06 AM	#51
Unsinkable II Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,352	Originally posted by mickey Are the photos I posted showing up for eveyone? I linked them from tinypic, but when I checked this thread on the PC at work they didn't show. I can see them at home. Perfect. Many thanks for posting them.

06-26-2012, 06:00 AM	#52
mickey Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Ah, ok. Good. I'll try and get some photos of all the colourways for comparison in the next day or 2.

06-26-2012, 07:05 AM	#53
pentax user Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 85	it would be great if it comes in camo

06-26-2012, 01:05 PM	#54
gorski Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 34	Silky orange one would really look nice next to our new Kuka robot (KUKA youBot Store)

06-26-2012, 05:49 PM	#56
mickey Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	^ Yeah, thanks mate. A lot of social media sites are blocked at work and google, yahoo, photobucket and the like. I don't post photos from work, but was wondering why tinypic links didn't show. Not too much of a problem as everything is fine to see at home.

06-27-2012, 02:47 AM	#57
mickey Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	The rest of the photos:

06-27-2012, 02:50 AM	#58
mickey Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	And finally:

06-27-2012, 03:11 AM	#59
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	They're all great but I particularly like the dark cherry red crystal and the crystals in dark olive and dark violet. I want that dark cherry red. That had better be on Amazon when I go to order mine, sigh...ME WANT....and I can't afford to import one....

06-27-2012, 03:13 AM	#60
anthony mazzeri Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 312	Thanks Mickey. The silky versions do look quite shiny from this higher angle. The olive one especially looks lighter green than it does in your previous pic. Even so I still lean towards that one being my preference. The observations about the grey one are spot on, it does look quite good. Not faux silver or metallic, but grey in its own right.