K30 or K50

old4570 · 10-30-2013, 04:20 AM

Which camera and Why ?

Been looking at used Pentax DSLR's , and they are ridiculously priced ATM on ebay ...

So why not a new one ? But which one ? K30 or K50

timcatn · 10-30-2013, 04:24 AM

They are more or less the same. Get the K30.

Na Horuk · 10-30-2013, 05:16 AM

Yep, the main difference is cosmetic. And the K-50 has some options that are enabled by default, but need to be activated on the K-30 via the menu. (like boost ISO, I think) So apart from this little difference in the menu, they are identical on the inside.
The K-30 should come at a better price, so as long as you like its looks and overall handling, go for it. Its great bang for buck

link81 · 10-30-2013, 05:50 AM

I believe the K50 only has another step higher iso (50k) and a mic port. other then that the're the same bird as far as i know.

the K500 is basically the same camera too, albeit without the weather sealing.

i just got mine a month or so ago, and chose the K30, i keep it capped at 12800 iso and didn't by it for video, so the slight advantages of the k50 didn't factor into my decision at all.

old4570 · 10-30-2013, 06:48 AM

The prices overlap more or less , so $$ dont factor into the decision that much ...

Thanks everyone ...

Kobayashi.K · 10-30-2013, 06:50 AM

They are more or less the same. Get the K50.

shaX 07 · 10-30-2013, 07:01 AM

I vote for the K-30 as well. I just bought mine maybe 7 weeks ago and I am glad I did. The cost aside, I just think the K-30 is more visually appealing than the K-50 (certainly subjective to each individual).

My only other advice would be to spring for the 18-135mm WR lens instead of the 18-55mm WR (if you're buying a kit). It seems to be consensus on this forum that the 18-135 WR is a much better lens than the 18-55 WR and when buying it in a kit it's much cheaper than if you decide you want it later (Which is where I find myself).

Killieman · 10-30-2013, 08:03 AM

My vote would be to go for the K-30. For me it has a superior feel and handling and rests nicely in my hand. The K-50 felt a bit more clunky to me. As far as I am aware they are basically the same internals in 2 different bodies so just go for whichever feels better to hold.

aremmes · 10-30-2013, 08:55 AM

Yay, first post.

I had the same question, and settled on the K-50 as it was only $20 more from Costco at the time with the DAL 18-55 and the DA 50-200, plus they had it in olive green. Had the difference been greater I'd have opted for the K-30 instead.

old4570 · 10-30-2013, 03:28 PM

I have one more 6.1MP camera to sell , ( hopefully this week end ) ,

Im just looking at a body ATM , as I have a cupboard full of lenses ( I wish that were not true )

BigCTM · 11-01-2013, 02:30 PM

I think the K50 looks a lot better than the K30. Not sure about the handling but I would choose the K50 based on the pictures in this thread.

shaX 07 · 11-01-2013, 03:29 PM

I'm changing my vote. Based on Adorama's current K-50 bundle deal, I would recommend that over a K-30. You get more stuff and pay less money than the recent Hunt's deal on the K-30. For Less money, it's sort of a no brainer to go with the K-50.

OldNoob · 11-03-2013, 03:29 PM

The k-30 seemed to come and go from the market somewhat quickly. Although i like the body styling of the k-30, which is why i chose the k-30 over the k-50,

HOWEVER,,i can't shake the the feeling that the k-50 may be a more refined camera as far as software and hardware. That is to say Ricoh, possibly taking what they learned from the k-30 and applying it in the k-50.

If i had it all to do over i think i would try to get a k-5IIs new.

This is where i got my new k-30. Not the cheapest price , but it was actually new.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-WAx4LmsvcKJ/p_815K30WRK/Pentax-K-30-with-3X-WR-...ml#details-tab
(beware of beachcamera, just from my own personal experience)

shaX 07 · 11-04-2013, 11:00 AM

Pentax K-50 Review: First Shots

They mention this:

"...the Pentax K-50 comes equipped with a refined version of the K-series' 16.3-megapixel APS-C sensor and PRIME M processor whose tweaks were designed to improve image quality. In particular, Pentax claims the K-50's sensor and processor work together to suppress jaggies (jagged lines) and reduce noise."

Is this at all significant or noticeable in images in comparison to the K30? Or is this difference only relevant to pixel peeping?

old4570 · 11-04-2013, 05:13 PM

Would help with cropping as well , I would imagine ...

10-30-2013, 04:20 AM	#1
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551	K30 or K50 Which camera and Why ? Been looking at used Pentax DSLR's , and they are ridiculously priced ATM on ebay ... So why not a new one ? But which one ? K30 or K50

11-03-2013, 03:29 PM	#13
OldNoob Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 402	The k-30 seemed to come and go from the market somewhat quickly. Although i like the body styling of the k-30, which is why i chose the k-30 over the k-50, HOWEVER,,i can't shake the the feeling that the k-50 may be a more refined camera as far as software and hardware. That is to say Ricoh, possibly taking what they learned from the k-30 and applying it in the k-50. If i had it all to do over i think i would try to get a k-5IIs new. This is where i got my new k-30. Not the cheapest price , but it was actually new. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-WAx4LmsvcKJ/p_815K30WRK/Pentax-K-30-with-3X-WR-...ml#details-tab (beware of beachcamera, just from my own personal experience) Last edited by OldNoob; 11-03-2013 at 03:36 PM.

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10-30-2013, 04:24 AM	#2
timcatn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Trondheim Posts: 237	They are more or less the same. Get the K30.

10-30-2013, 05:16 AM	#3
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Yep, the main difference is cosmetic. And the K-50 has some options that are enabled by default, but need to be activated on the K-30 via the menu. (like boost ISO, I think) So apart from this little difference in the menu, they are identical on the inside. The K-30 should come at a better price, so as long as you like its looks and overall handling, go for it. Its great bang for buck

10-30-2013, 05:50 AM	#4
link81 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 12822 Photos: Albums Posts: 459	I believe the K50 only has another step higher iso (50k) and a mic port. other then that the're the same bird as far as i know. the K500 is basically the same camera too, albeit without the weather sealing. i just got mine a month or so ago, and chose the K30, i keep it capped at 12800 iso and didn't by it for video, so the slight advantages of the k50 didn't factor into my decision at all.

10-30-2013, 06:48 AM	#5
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551 Original Poster	The prices overlap more or less , so $$ dont factor into the decision that much ... Thanks everyone ...

10-30-2013, 06:50 AM	#6
Kobayashi.K Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 716	They are more or less the same. Get the K50.

10-30-2013, 07:01 AM	#7
shaX 07 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Maine Posts: 331	I vote for the K-30 as well. I just bought mine maybe 7 weeks ago and I am glad I did. The cost aside, I just think the K-30 is more visually appealing than the K-50 (certainly subjective to each individual). My only other advice would be to spring for the 18-135mm WR lens instead of the 18-55mm WR (if you're buying a kit). It seems to be consensus on this forum that the 18-135 WR is a much better lens than the 18-55 WR and when buying it in a kit it's much cheaper than if you decide you want it later (Which is where I find myself).

10-30-2013, 08:03 AM	#8
Killieman New Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 24	My vote would be to go for the K-30. For me it has a superior feel and handling and rests nicely in my hand. The K-50 felt a bit more clunky to me. As far as I am aware they are basically the same internals in 2 different bodies so just go for whichever feels better to hold.

10-30-2013, 08:55 AM	#9
aremmes Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Philadelphia Photos: Albums Posts: 217	Yay, first post. I had the same question, and settled on the K-50 as it was only $20 more from Costco at the time with the DAL 18-55 and the DA 50-200, plus they had it in olive green. Had the difference been greater I'd have opted for the K-30 instead.

10-30-2013, 03:28 PM	#10
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551 Original Poster	I have one more 6.1MP camera to sell , ( hopefully this week end ) , Im just looking at a body ATM , as I have a cupboard full of lenses ( I wish that were not true )

11-01-2013, 02:30 PM	#11
BigCTM Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cordova, TN Photos: Albums Posts: 64	I think the K50 looks a lot better than the K30. Not sure about the handling but I would choose the K50 based on the pictures in this thread.

11-01-2013, 03:29 PM	#12
shaX 07 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Maine Posts: 331	I'm changing my vote. Based on Adorama's current K-50 bundle deal, I would recommend that over a K-30. You get more stuff and pay less money than the recent Hunt's deal on the K-30. For Less money, it's sort of a no brainer to go with the K-50.

11-04-2013, 11:00 AM	#14
shaX 07 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Maine Posts: 331	Pentax K-50 Review: First Shots They mention this: "...the Pentax K-50 comes equipped with a refined version of the K-series' 16.3-megapixel APS-C sensor and PRIME M processor whose tweaks were designed to improve image quality. In particular, Pentax claims the K-50's sensor and processor work together to suppress jaggies (jagged lines) and reduce noise." Is this at all significant or noticeable in images in comparison to the K30? Or is this difference only relevant to pixel peeping?

11-04-2013, 05:13 PM	#15
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551 Original Poster	Would help with cropping as well , I would imagine ...