Pentax K-30 Test Images (Finally!)

Welfl · 06-21-2012, 07:42 AM

Finally, someone has decided to (or been allowed to?) post some images taken with the Pentax K-30.

Imaging Resource has just posted 15 photos: Pentax K-30 Gallery.

P.S. I would like to have seen at least one image (and preferably more) taken somewhere between ISO 1600 and ISO 6400, to see (as much as possible) where the noise actually starts to become noticeable in lower-light settings.

Last edited by Welfl; 06-21-2012 at 08:12 AM.

JinDesu · 06-21-2012, 08:19 AM

Someone was walking around with the k-30 in NYC!? Dangit!

Straight out of Cam jpegs, as a warning to those who want to look at the set:
http://216.18.212.226/PRODS/pentax-k30/FULLRES/yIMGP0386.JPG

Shot with the 18-135 WR, 31mm, 1/60s, ISO 1600, F4.5. Looks very off, in terms of noise level and noise reduction. However, I remember seeing DPreview's k-5 jpeg pictures and they are pretty similar. I assume RAW will look a heckuvalot better.

EXIF says NR was off in that shot, but I feel like there is still NR..

http://216.18.212.226/PRODS/pentax-k30/FULLRES/yIMGP0253.JPG
Shot with 18-135WR, 28mm, 1/30s, ISO 6400, F4. Definitely feels like there is NR in this shot, but the exif says NR is off.

Also - exif says SR was off in the two shots I linked, which is odd since they were shot at 1/30 and 1/60s and the lens isn't THAT light.

Welfl · 06-21-2012, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by JinDesu

Someone was walking around with the k-30 in NYC!? Dangit!

That'll teach ya not ta be payin' attention! He probably walked right past you at least once.

Anvh · 06-21-2012, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by JinDesu

http://216.18.212.226/PRODS/pentax-k30/FULLRES/yIMGP0253.JPG
Shot with 18-135WR, 28mm, 1/30s, ISO 6400, F4. Definitely feels like there is NR in this shot, but the exif says NR is off.

If it works like the K-01 and K5 which is quite likely then everything above ISO1600 has NR applied to it, even the RAWs

Ryan Trevisol · 06-21-2012, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by JinDesu

http://216.18.212.226/PRODS/pentax-k30/FULLRES/yIMGP0386.JPG

Shot with the 18-135 WR, 31mm, 1/60s, ISO 1600, F4.5. Looks very off, in terms of noise level and noise reduction. However, I remember seeing DPreview's k-5 jpeg pictures and they are pretty similar. I assume RAW will look a heckuvalot better.

EXIF says NR was off in that shot, but I feel like there is still NR..

Aggreed. And fairly aggressive NR to boot.

loco · 06-21-2012, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by Anvh

If it works like the K-01 and K5 which is quite likely then everything above ISO1600 has NR applied to it, even the RAWs

Hmmm, I didn't know that. Is there a way to remove the NR in Lightroom or some other program or are you stuck with it?

JinDesu · 06-21-2012, 10:15 AM

Originally posted by loco

Hmmm, I didn't know that. Is there a way to remove the NR in Lightroom or some other program or are you stuck with it?

The thing is - on the k-5, shooting ISO3200+, I've seen RAW edited shots and they look amazing. Very clear, crisp, and low in noise. A huge improvement over the out-of-cam JPEG with equivalent settings. I can only assume that the noise reduction applied to the JPEG is much stronger than the one applied to the RAW.

loco · 06-21-2012, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by JinDesu

The thing is - on the k-5, shooting ISO3200+, I've seen RAW edited shots and they look amazing. Very clear, crisp, and low in noise. A huge improvement over the out-of-cam JPEG with equivalent settings. I can only assume that the noise reduction applied to the JPEG is much stronger than the one applied to the RAW.

I agree that the K5 images I've seen look awesome - that's why I was surprised to find that out. Since I shoot RAW, I just figured all the NR was done to JPG's and never gave it much thought. Anyway, I hope the K-30 high ISO performance is as good as the K-5!

Anvh · 06-21-2012, 11:08 AM

Originally posted by loco

Hmmm, I didn't know that. Is there a way to remove the NR in Lightroom or some other program or are you stuck with it?

Shoot at ISO 1600 and underexpose the photo, bring them back later with lightroom.
From what i hear all modes above ISO1600 are done by the camera software anyway so you shouldnt be loosing something in quality.
Havent tested it yet.

loco · 06-21-2012, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by Anvh

Shoot at ISO 1600 and underexpose the photo, bring them back later with lightroom.
From what i hear all modes above ISO1600 are done by the camera software anyway so you shouldnt be loosing something in quality.
Havent tested it yet.

Thanks for the info!

seventysixersfan · 06-21-2012, 12:14 PM

A brief hands-on summary at Engadget:

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

**RobA_Oz** · 06-21-2012, 12:23 PM

Originally posted by Anvh

If it works like the K-01 and K5 which is quite likely then everything above ISO1600 has NR applied to it, even the RAWs

I don't think that's correct. If you shoot RAW+, then the JPEG image will have NR applied (very effectively, too, especially with the Q) but as far as I can see, the RAW image is untouched, as it should be. Do you have a source for this?

Welfl · 06-21-2012, 12:37 PM

Originally posted by Anvh

Shoot at ISO 1600 and underexpose the photo, bring them back later with lightroom.

I agree. I've seen some outstanding examples using this methodology.

Aegon · 06-21-2012, 12:49 PM

Engadget put the camera under a water spout.

That's like crashing a car to make sure the airbags work. Kinda.

seventysixersfan · 06-21-2012, 12:51 PM

but the image puts out an immediate message to the other sub-$1000 DSLRs: this is far more rugged camera and capable of handling weather extremes. and it's better than the recent Popular Photography's picture of the K-30 at least.

06-21-2012, 07:42 AM	#1
Welfl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Nebraska Posts: 281	Pentax K-30 Test Images (Finally!) Finally, someone has decided to (or been allowed to?) post some images taken with the Pentax K-30. Imaging Resource has just posted 15 photos: Pentax K-30 Gallery. P.S. I would like to have seen at least one image (and preferably more) taken somewhere between ISO 1600 and ISO 6400, to see (as much as possible) where the noise actually starts to become noticeable in lower-light settings. Last edited by Welfl; 06-21-2012 at 08:12 AM.

06-21-2012, 08:19 AM	#2
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Someone was walking around with the k-30 in NYC!? Dangit! Straight out of Cam jpegs, as a warning to those who want to look at the set: http://216.18.212.226/PRODS/pentax-k30/FULLRES/yIMGP0386.JPG Shot with the 18-135 WR, 31mm, 1/60s, ISO 1600, F4.5. Looks very off, in terms of noise level and noise reduction. However, I remember seeing DPreview's k-5 jpeg pictures and they are pretty similar. I assume RAW will look a heckuvalot better. EXIF says NR was off in that shot, but I feel like there is still NR.. http://216.18.212.226/PRODS/pentax-k30/FULLRES/yIMGP0253.JPG Shot with 18-135WR, 28mm, 1/30s, ISO 6400, F4. Definitely feels like there is NR in this shot, but the exif says NR is off. Also - exif says SR was off in the two shots I linked, which is odd since they were shot at 1/30 and 1/60s and the lens isn't THAT light. Last edited by JinDesu; 06-21-2012 at 08:27 AM.

06-21-2012, 12:37 PM	#13
Welfl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Nebraska Posts: 281 Original Poster	Originally posted by Anvh Shoot at ISO 1600 and underexpose the photo, bring them back later with lightroom. I agree. I've seen some outstanding examples using this methodology. Last edited by Welfl; 06-21-2012 at 05:10 PM.

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06-21-2012, 08:30 AM	#3
Welfl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Nebraska Posts: 281 Original Poster	Originally posted by JinDesu Someone was walking around with the k-30 in NYC!? Dangit! That'll teach ya not ta be payin' attention! He probably walked right past you at least once.

06-21-2012, 10:08 AM	#4
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Originally posted by JinDesu http://216.18.212.226/PRODS/pentax-k30/FULLRES/yIMGP0253.JPG Shot with 18-135WR, 28mm, 1/30s, ISO 6400, F4. Definitely feels like there is NR in this shot, but the exif says NR is off. If it works like the K-01 and K5 which is quite likely then everything above ISO1600 has NR applied to it, even the RAWs

06-21-2012, 10:11 AM	#5
Ryan Trevisol Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 312	Originally posted by JinDesu http://216.18.212.226/PRODS/pentax-k30/FULLRES/yIMGP0386.JPG Shot with the 18-135 WR, 31mm, 1/60s, ISO 1600, F4.5. Looks very off, in terms of noise level and noise reduction. However, I remember seeing DPreview's k-5 jpeg pictures and they are pretty similar. I assume RAW will look a heckuvalot better. EXIF says NR was off in that shot, but I feel like there is still NR.. Aggreed. And fairly aggressive NR to boot.

06-21-2012, 10:12 AM	#6
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	Originally posted by Anvh If it works like the K-01 and K5 which is quite likely then everything above ISO1600 has NR applied to it, even the RAWs Hmmm, I didn't know that. Is there a way to remove the NR in Lightroom or some other program or are you stuck with it?

06-21-2012, 10:15 AM	#7
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by loco Hmmm, I didn't know that. Is there a way to remove the NR in Lightroom or some other program or are you stuck with it? The thing is - on the k-5, shooting ISO3200+, I've seen RAW edited shots and they look amazing. Very clear, crisp, and low in noise. A huge improvement over the out-of-cam JPEG with equivalent settings. I can only assume that the noise reduction applied to the JPEG is much stronger than the one applied to the RAW.

06-21-2012, 10:31 AM	#8
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	Originally posted by JinDesu The thing is - on the k-5, shooting ISO3200+, I've seen RAW edited shots and they look amazing. Very clear, crisp, and low in noise. A huge improvement over the out-of-cam JPEG with equivalent settings. I can only assume that the noise reduction applied to the JPEG is much stronger than the one applied to the RAW. I agree that the K5 images I've seen look awesome - that's why I was surprised to find that out. Since I shoot RAW, I just figured all the NR was done to JPG's and never gave it much thought. Anyway, I hope the K-30 high ISO performance is as good as the K-5!

06-21-2012, 11:08 AM	#9
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Originally posted by loco Hmmm, I didn't know that. Is there a way to remove the NR in Lightroom or some other program or are you stuck with it? Shoot at ISO 1600 and underexpose the photo, bring them back later with lightroom. From what i hear all modes above ISO1600 are done by the camera software anyway so you shouldnt be loosing something in quality. Havent tested it yet.

06-21-2012, 11:29 AM	#10
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	Originally posted by Anvh Shoot at ISO 1600 and underexpose the photo, bring them back later with lightroom. From what i hear all modes above ISO1600 are done by the camera software anyway so you shouldnt be loosing something in quality. Havent tested it yet. Thanks for the info!

06-21-2012, 12:14 PM	#11
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	A brief hands-on summary at Engadget: Pentax K-30 weather-sealed DSLR hands-on with sample photos and video -- Engadget

06-21-2012, 12:23 PM	#12
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Originally posted by Anvh If it works like the K-01 and K5 which is quite likely then everything above ISO1600 has NR applied to it, even the RAWs I don't think that's correct. If you shoot RAW+, then the JPEG image will have NR applied (very effectively, too, especially with the Q) but as far as I can see, the RAW image is untouched, as it should be. Do you have a source for this?

06-21-2012, 12:49 PM	#14
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416	Engadget put the camera under a water spout. That's like crashing a car to make sure the airbags work. Kinda.

06-21-2012, 12:51 PM	#15
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	but the image puts out an immediate message to the other sub-$1000 DSLRs: this is far more rugged camera and capable of handling weather extremes. and it's better than the recent Popular Photography's picture of the K-30 at least.