K-30 - seems very trouble free?

rawr · 08-25-2012, 12:45 AM

Unlike the K-7, K-x, K-5, K-r, K-01 , Q or anything else Pentax related

, I'm very impressed that there seems to be NO litany of complaints here about pretty much anything to do with the K-30 (aside from the lack of support for K-30 DNG's in some software apps, but that's not really a Pentax issue per se).

So am I right in calling the K-30 pretty much the most trouble free Pentax in living forum memory? Or it is just too early to make that call?

Sol Invictus · 08-25-2012, 12:53 AM

You just jinxed it. Thanks a lot!

vladimiroltean · 08-25-2012, 04:38 AM

Also K20D, with its banding, or am I fabulating?

Anvh · 08-25-2012, 04:42 AM

Did the K10D had any problems beside the little crack?
What about the Km and K200D?

rawr · 08-25-2012, 04:54 AM

Originally posted by Anvh

K200D

IIRC, some users had some issues with different AA batteries (of course), not great high ISO was a common gripe, one or two AF issues, a few assorted weird issues (eg once in a while I had purple sensor blooms on some night shots), but all in all it had a pretty good run on the forums I believe.

borno · 08-25-2012, 05:00 AM

Originally posted by Anvh

Did the K10D had any problems beside the little crack?
What about the Km and K200D?

My K10d had the early flash failure (after about 12 flash uses) and the replacement had the tilted viewfinder and got the corner crack. Then within a year on a hot day in the sun it went kind of haywire IIRC the aperture would only work correctly on my DA300 (my only sdm lens) and they had to replace the main circuit board. k100ds needed a few pixels mapped out, and the k20d had a big spot on the sensor new out of the box (I had to wet clean it). I was really happy with them all though in the long run. I got the longer warranty when I got the k20d because of my k10d problems, but never had to use it.

JinDesu · 08-25-2012, 06:52 AM

So far, the issues I have read for the K-30 are:

Weird battery indicator issue
Sometimes it freezes up
Slow or fast Live view autofocus depending on which reviewer is using it (I kid, I kid)

Not sure if there was anything else. Hopefully the first two I list get fixed in the next firmware.

Chaos_Realm · 08-25-2012, 07:16 AM

Originally posted by JinDesu

Weird battery indicator issue

Isn't this a standard 'feature' for pentax? I have heard the issues is at least on K-7, K-5 although not sure pre-dating that.

Originally posted by JinDesu

Sometimes it freezes up

Fingers crossed it should be a firmware bug.

**Rondec** · 08-25-2012, 07:40 AM

Well, I would say that the K30 is sort of a "reboot" of the K5 with a slightly different body, meaning that it should be pretty well tested, less chance for problems. The K7 (which was a reboot of the K20) really had very few issues on release (other than somewhat poor sensor quality). There was green line issue that was fixed after a few weeks.

The K20 on release had trouble with freeze ups. I had to send my camera in to have a circuit board replaced, but did well after that.

Some issues come over time (lens release button issue with K5, mirror tilt issue with K10), so it may be a little soon to tell quality control.

Anvh · 08-25-2012, 08:12 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

Well, I would say that the K30 is sort of a "reboot" of the K5 with a slightly different body

It seems ur forgetting the new motherboard, processor and AF system.... only thing that is the same is the viewfinder, LCD and the sensor...

grant richie · 08-25-2012, 08:48 AM

I have been using mine extensively for the past month or so and am very happy. Ergonomically it felt a little funny to me at first compared to the K-5, but now I don't notice and it feels fine.

sjwaldron · 08-25-2012, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

Well, I would say that the K30 is sort of a "reboot" of the K5 with a slightly different body

Internally, it's like a conglomeration of K-01 sensor/processing board/LCD screen, k-r shutter/plastic casing techniques, and modified AF/Viewfinder/WR from the K-5.

**Rondec** · 08-25-2012, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by Anvh

It seems ur forgetting the new motherboard, processor and AF system.... only thing that is the same is the viewfinder, LCD and the sensor...

Sure, but as sjwaldron says, I think a lot of the components have seen the light of day before. The new flagship model that follows the K5 is much more likely to have issues, particularly if it attempts a new auto focus system, PRIME, etc.

Anvh · 08-25-2012, 09:33 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

Sure, but as sjwaldron says, I think a lot of the components have seen the light of day before. The new flagship model that follows the K5 is much more likely to have issues, particularly if it attempts a new auto focus system, PRIME, etc.

Please check the specs of the K30 and you will see it uses a NEW prime processor and auto focus system

So no, there are a lot of new stuff inside the K30 with some older stuff that was used in the K-01 but that is a special kind of camera and still new as well.

drivingback · 08-25-2012, 09:18 PM

Yep. So far so good!

If there are any issues I guess very minor.

1. I've seen it overexpose a few times, very rare though.
2. The LCD screen is too good! Is that a problem?

When I import my photos to my laptop, I am a little disappointed that the brightness/exposure of the photo is actually a notch lower. I have my laptop calibrated with Spyder 4 Express. Not sure if I am doing anything wrong.
3. I don't know if this is the same as other models as my K-x is now with my brother so I cannot confirm. But when you set an Exposure Compensation/Bias in another mode (e.g. Av), then you shoot at Manual mode. The Exif you get will have an Exposure Bias written on it. It is a very minor quirk I know, but it shouldn't have that info right?

08-25-2012, 12:45 AM	#1
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	K-30 - seems very trouble free? Unlike the K-7, K-x, K-5, K-r, K-01 , Q or anything else Pentax related , I'm very impressed that there seems to be NO litany of complaints here about pretty much anything to do with the K-30 (aside from the lack of support for K-30 DNG's in some software apps, but that's not really a Pentax issue per se). So am I right in calling the K-30 pretty much the most trouble free Pentax in living forum memory? Or it is just too early to make that call?

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08-25-2012, 12:53 AM	#2
Sol Invictus Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Photos: Gallery Posts: 392	You just jinxed it. Thanks a lot!

08-25-2012, 04:38 AM	#3
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Also K20D, with its banding, or am I fabulating?

08-25-2012, 04:42 AM	#4
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Did the K10D had any problems beside the little crack? What about the Km and K200D?

08-25-2012, 04:54 AM	#5
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913 Original Poster	Originally posted by Anvh K200D IIRC, some users had some issues with different AA batteries (of course), not great high ISO was a common gripe, one or two AF issues, a few assorted weird issues (eg once in a while I had purple sensor blooms on some night shots), but all in all it had a pretty good run on the forums I believe.

08-25-2012, 05:00 AM	#6
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	Originally posted by Anvh Did the K10D had any problems beside the little crack? What about the Km and K200D? My K10d had the early flash failure (after about 12 flash uses) and the replacement had the tilted viewfinder and got the corner crack. Then within a year on a hot day in the sun it went kind of haywire IIRC the aperture would only work correctly on my DA300 (my only sdm lens) and they had to replace the main circuit board. k100ds needed a few pixels mapped out, and the k20d had a big spot on the sensor new out of the box (I had to wet clean it). I was really happy with them all though in the long run. I got the longer warranty when I got the k20d because of my k10d problems, but never had to use it.

08-25-2012, 06:52 AM	#7
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	So far, the issues I have read for the K-30 are: Weird battery indicator issue Sometimes it freezes up Slow or fast Live view autofocus depending on which reviewer is using it (I kid, I kid) Not sure if there was anything else. Hopefully the first two I list get fixed in the next firmware.

08-25-2012, 07:16 AM	#8
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251	Originally posted by JinDesu Weird battery indicator issue Isn't this a standard 'feature' for pentax? I have heard the issues is at least on K-7, K-5 although not sure pre-dating that. Originally posted by JinDesu Sometimes it freezes up Fingers crossed it should be a firmware bug.

08-25-2012, 07:40 AM	#9
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,662	Well, I would say that the K30 is sort of a "reboot" of the K5 with a slightly different body, meaning that it should be pretty well tested, less chance for problems. The K7 (which was a reboot of the K20) really had very few issues on release (other than somewhat poor sensor quality). There was green line issue that was fixed after a few weeks. The K20 on release had trouble with freeze ups. I had to send my camera in to have a circuit board replaced, but did well after that. Some issues come over time (lens release button issue with K5, mirror tilt issue with K10), so it may be a little soon to tell quality control.

08-25-2012, 08:12 AM	#10
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Originally posted by Rondec Well, I would say that the K30 is sort of a "reboot" of the K5 with a slightly different body It seems ur forgetting the new motherboard, processor and AF system.... only thing that is the same is the viewfinder, LCD and the sensor...

08-25-2012, 08:48 AM	#11
grant richie Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 85	I have been using mine extensively for the past month or so and am very happy. Ergonomically it felt a little funny to me at first compared to the K-5, but now I don't notice and it feels fine.

08-25-2012, 09:13 AM	#12
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	Originally posted by Rondec Well, I would say that the K30 is sort of a "reboot" of the K5 with a slightly different body Internally, it's like a conglomeration of K-01 sensor/processing board/LCD screen, k-r shutter/plastic casing techniques, and modified AF/Viewfinder/WR from the K-5.

08-25-2012, 09:27 AM	#13
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,662	Originally posted by Anvh It seems ur forgetting the new motherboard, processor and AF system.... only thing that is the same is the viewfinder, LCD and the sensor... Sure, but as sjwaldron says, I think a lot of the components have seen the light of day before. The new flagship model that follows the K5 is much more likely to have issues, particularly if it attempts a new auto focus system, PRIME, etc.

08-25-2012, 09:33 AM	#14
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Originally posted by Rondec Sure, but as sjwaldron says, I think a lot of the components have seen the light of day before. The new flagship model that follows the K5 is much more likely to have issues, particularly if it attempts a new auto focus system, PRIME, etc. Please check the specs of the K30 and you will see it uses a NEW prime processor and auto focus system So no, there are a lot of new stuff inside the K30 with some older stuff that was used in the K-01 but that is a special kind of camera and still new as well.

08-25-2012, 09:18 PM	#15
drivingback Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 182	Yep. So far so good! If there are any issues I guess very minor. 1. I've seen it overexpose a few times, very rare though. 2. The LCD screen is too good! Is that a problem? When I import my photos to my laptop, I am a little disappointed that the brightness/exposure of the photo is actually a notch lower. I have my laptop calibrated with Spyder 4 Express. Not sure if I am doing anything wrong. 3. I don't know if this is the same as other models as my K-x is now with my brother so I cannot confirm. But when you set an Exposure Compensation/Bias in another mode (e.g. Av), then you shoot at Manual mode. The Exif you get will have an Exposure Bias written on it. It is a very minor quirk I know, but it shouldn't have that info right?