[roxieflynn]

I have a k10d and an old zoom lens from 1989 Sigma 75-300mm. I am going to Cuba shortly. Should I purchase the k30? Also, what lenses would you bring to such a colorful country?

[Bramela]

The K30 is a far superior camera to the K10d, which is a much earlier model. I feel you would get much better results with the K30 and I personally would recommend giving serious consideration to the newer k30.
Best of luck for your trip.

[c-meier]

I just upgraded from the K10d (well, actually GX-10, the samsung-rebadged version) to a K30, and, yes, Bramela is right: the K30 is, overall, a better camera: smaller (but great grip), lighter, faster AF, and of course much better low-light IQ. That said, in good light the K10D does a very good job, too. In fact, I kinda miss that camera's color. If you are going to shoot in daylight, I don't think the upgrade is necessary.
I also miss the pattern/center/spot switch. And the top LCD, but less than I had feared. YMMV. Oh, and the K30 batteries last much, much less. So I'd get some spares or an AA adapter if I was traveling.

Re lenses: obviously, if you only have the 70-300, you'll want something wider. I go the K30 with the 18-135 kit ($1000), and am pretty happy with it, but the 18-55 might complement your lens well, too.

[mickey]

If you only want to take one lens, then a zoom might be better seeing that you've been using a75-300.

One of the 17-70 Sigma's or Pentax.
Or maybe even the Pentax 18-135 DA WR.

[Rich7333]

What I would reccomend is to keep the K10 if it is still working fine. Spend the money on some good glass like the 17-70 SDM and maybe one of the fast 50mm primes. The only reason I upgraded from my old 10mp camera is because it broke after the warranty was over. I'm not blown away by the K-30 on low iso images compared to the K200D (K10). They are not better images, just bigger. However If you need video, 6 fps continuous shooting, and lower noise at high iso that is up to what you will be using the camera for.



Richard

My Gallery - Richards Photography

[pentaxian233]

I'm kind of in the same boat. I'm using an old k10d because nothing else gives me the color I like.

[ramseybuckeye]

I migrated from the K20D to the K-30 and could not be happier, and I loved the K20D. I thought I would miss the top LCD but I do not at all. The K-30's improved AF and High ISO capabilities have given greater life to some of my lenses like the DA55-300 which was always a good lens but suffered in low light. Is the Sigma your only lens? I also got the 18-135WR with the camera and would highly recommend it for your trip. You can get a good deal with the lens packaged with the K-30. The WR may be very useful in a tropical climate. You may want a faster lens for night time or indoors, the high ISO capability helps, but a fast prime would be nice too. The 35/2.4 and the 50/1.8 are the least costly new primes from Pentax. I have the 35/2.4 and it is an excellent lens, and very small and light (it does not come with a hood, so buy a cheap one to use with it). Some of your lens choices may depend on your itinerary, how long will you be there and what will you do? I think of that even if I'm just going across town. I would also recommend to carry your gear inconspicuously when not using it.

[Pheo]

K10D to K30 is a great upgrade, but lenses would be my primary concern.

If you could stretch to it, K30+ 18-135mm is a great combo.

[rbefly]

Hello Roxieflynn, Welcome to the Forum!
Some good advice so far, I'll just add my .02$;
I upgraded from a K10D to a K-7. Couldn't be happier with the K-7's performance, but that said, I still use my K10D quite a bit. I think the colors are a bit "livelier" or brighter (but not unrealistically so. Some of this depends upon the lens used) and the overall ergonomics of the K10D fit my hands slightly better.
But the camera is only half the system, the lens is really the important half. I believe you'll regret having only a telephoto with you, regardless of which camera body you use.
I would strongly suggest getting the best wide-angle zoom you can afford. The DA 16-45 f/4.0, the 17-70mm, 18-135, even the "kit" 18-55m would be far better than missing all the wide-to-normal photos.
As an option, the DA 35mm f/2.4 AL is probably the finest, sharpest budget prime going, lightning-fast AF and perfect for walking-around street candids and scenics.
Spare batteries, SD cards and a flash are must-haves, also.
Good Luck, enjoy your trip!
Ron

[barendvl]

Just got a k30 after my k10d was stolen. Its performing much better then I hoped - in low light, i shoot comfortably up to iso 3200 at acceptable noise levels, similar to 640 iso at the k10d. Up to 800, noise is simply no issue. 1600 iso is about equal to 400 iso at the k10d.
The body is slightly more ugly and offers less manual controls. But if thats important, go for the k5 instead.

Hope this helps.

[jeff knight]

OMG! K10d versus K30? No contest, no contest, no contest. Any K10d or K20d holdouts who are refusing to update to to the K30 are delusional idiots. I try to be a kind person and I do not say this lightly. The only folks I would excuse would be people with no money, and folks with very large hands who absolutely need a bigger camera. There's no other reasons not to upgrade and support Pentax-Ricoh.

[D0n]

I see no reason to make the switch.
I use my k10 in studio with studio strobes and manual focus... and sell the finished products...
I use a kr for events and low light jobs... and sell the finished products...
My ds2 still gets used for snapshots..

I think a k-01 would add to my video shooting projects, produce images of equal quality to the k5 and cost significantly less than the k-30....
So why bother with the k-30 at all, right now?

as for the op... why not look at lenses... you're not likely even getting the full potential out of your k10 with that old sigma lens...
get a new wr zoom, and a (new or used) fast fifty and the new 35 2.4

[Mattco26]

OMG! K10d versus K30? No contest, no contest, no contest. Any K10d or K20d holdouts who are refusing to update to to the K30 are delusional idiots. I try to be a kind person and I do not say this lightly. The only folks I would excuse would be people with no money, and folks with very large hands who absolutely need a bigger camera. There's no other reasons not to upgrade and support Pentax-Ricoh.

Thanks, I hadn't been called a delusional idiot yet today. Now my day is complete.

I like my K10D. The colors are great and the batteries last all day. I have no reason to upgrade to the K30. If the K-01 had an evf I might have gone for that, but K30? No thanks.

[paulh]

Count me among the ranks of the "delusional idiots" who use perfectly good older gear. As far as the OP, he never replied to this thread and a month has passed, so maybe the Cuba trip is over & done with. I don't know the OP's budget, but I'd suggest keeping the K10 and picking up an 18-135, or one of the 18-55 variants, along with maybe the DA35/2.4. As the saying goes, camera bodies come & go, but glass is forever!