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11-27-2013, 09:47 AM   #16
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Wow - thank you all so much. I think I might take Bagga_Txips' tip and go with the k-50 and the 18-55WR lens, looks like the best combination of quality and price point.. Thank you all again for your amazing help.

11-27-2013, 09:54 AM   #17
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Good Morning watchingskyfallatm and welcome to the forum,

Since you are from down under, the importer/distributor JR Kennedy also does Sigma, so in OZ, they tend to package Pentax bodies with Sigma lenses. This is not bad - as Sigma has some excellent lenses. Its just that Sigma lenses are not sealed. On the Pentax lens you need to look for the WR after the name, and it is always on the lens, usually around the front element and in Blue

You can call Ted's camera and ask them if they have a K30 or K50 bundled with a WR lens - either the 18-55WR or 18-135WR. I skimmed through their Pentax offerings and did not see any.

You also need to be a bit careful. Pentax has another body the K500 which is the same as the K50, but with out the weather sealing and a couple of other features.

11-27-2013, 10:44 AM   #18
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QuoteOriginally posted by interested_observer Quote
Good Morning watchingskyfallatm and welcome to the forum,

Since you are from down under, the importer/distributor JR Kennedy also does Sigma, so in OZ, they tend to package Pentax bodies with Sigma lenses. This is not bad - as Sigma has some excellent lenses. Its just that Sigma lenses are not sealed. On the Pentax lens you need to look for the WR after the name, and it is always on the lens, usually around the front element and in Blue

You can call Ted's camera and ask them if they have a K30 or K50 bundled with a WR lens - either the 18-55WR or 18-135WR. I skimmed through their Pentax offerings and did not see any.

You also need to be a bit careful. Pentax has another body the K500 which is the same as the K50, but with out the weather sealing and a couple of other features.

Awesome. Awesome. Thank you!
11-27-2013, 10:57 AM   #19
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I dont want to confuse you further, but if I were in your situation, I would rather get a slighty used K-5 than a K-30.
The K-30 is indeed noisier at higher ISOs (not really noticeable until ISO 1600).
I give all my experiences in this thread:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/230552-switched-k-5-k-30-a.html

11-27-2013, 01:19 PM   #20
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QuoteOriginally posted by cyclone3d Quote
I still don't get how people thing that the screw drive lenses are "super loud".
My D600 with any silent lens is still louder than the K-5 with any screw-drive, including the kit lens.

That shutter slams open and shut, seems like all Nikons do that.
11-27-2013, 03:34 PM   #21
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Yes, noise is a factor. The shutter noise of the K-5 is much quieter than the K-30. And the focus noise on the 18-135 is less than the 18-55, and of shorter duration.

K-5 plus 18-135, stealth mode!
11-27-2013, 05:45 PM   #22
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So, here is a bit on the kit lenses. Here are some threads/samples from the lenses. The 18-135, the 18-55WR, 18-55 II and 18-55 I. The 18-55WR is the same design as the 18-55 II. The 18-55 II is an updated version of the 18-55 I to support the additional resolution of the sensors.By stopping down a bit on the kit lenses, you are probably getting 80-90% of the more expensive lenses in terms of IQ. The last 10-20% of IQ along with faster apertures (to use in lower light situations), additional coatings (to reduce flare), and build quality is where the additional costs go.

The K30/K50 are the same camera, with the K50 having a very slightly different body. The K5, K30/K50, K5II/IIs all use the same sensor which will provide excellent performance at the higher ISO sensitivities. What ever you select, you really can't go wrong.



11-27-2013, 08:17 PM   #23
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QuoteOriginally posted by interested_observer Quote
So, here is a bit on the kit lenses. Here are some threads/samples from the lenses. The 18-135, the 18-55WR, 18-55 II and 18-55 I. The 18-55WR is the same design as the 18-55 II. The 18-55 II is an updated version of the 18-55 I to support the additional resolution of the sensors.By stopping down a bit on the kit lenses, you are probably getting 80-90% of the more expensive lenses in terms of IQ. The last 10-20% of IQ along with faster apertures (to use in lower light situations), additional coatings (to reduce flare), and build quality is where the additional costs go.

The K30/K50 are the same camera, with the K50 having a very slightly different body. The K5, K30/K50, K5II/IIs all use the same sensor which will provide excellent performance at the higher ISO sensitivities. What ever you select, you really can't go wrong.

Fantastic, thanks for that. Shots from the WR look beautiful.
11-28-2013, 07:49 AM - 1 Like   #24
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I like things underexposed...
11-28-2013, 08:35 AM   #25
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Seems as though local stocks of the K-30 must nearly be exhausted. A mate has just bought one from CRK and I was surprised at how much he paid.... Much more than I would have thought. I'd definitely consider importing one at this stage. Amazon, B&H and Adorama most likely will not sell to Australia (to preserve CRK rights). But eBay might help. Of course you will forego local warranty if you do.

Might be worth giving CRK a call? I have heard they are pretty reasonable with giving a deal over the phone. CRK are the Aussie distributor www.pentax.com.au
11-28-2013, 09:43 AM   #26
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QuoteOriginally posted by dcBear78 Quote
Seems as though local stocks of the K-30 must nearly be exhausted. A mate has just bought one from CRK and I was surprised at how much he paid.... Much more than I would have thought. I'd definitely consider importing one at this stage. Amazon, B&H and Adorama most likely will not sell to Australia (to preserve CRK rights). But eBay might help. Of course you will forego local warranty if you do.

Might be worth giving CRK a call? I have heard they are pretty reasonable with giving a deal over the phone. CRK are the Aussie distributor www.pentax.com.au
B&H charges $56.86 for shipping to down under...

11-28-2013, 03:07 PM   #27
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QuoteOriginally posted by interested_observer Quote
B&H charges $56.86 for shipping to down under...

Awesome.... Did say "most likely" cause I did not know for sure. I do know Amazon won't.
11-28-2013, 11:01 PM   #28
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QuoteOriginally posted by dcBear78 Quote
Seems as though local stocks of the K-30 must nearly be exhausted. A mate has just bought one from CRK and I was surprised at how much he paid.... Much more than I would have thought. I'd definitely consider importing one at this stage. Amazon, B&H and Adorama most likely will not sell to Australia (to preserve CRK rights). But eBay might help. Of course you will forego local warranty if you do.

Might be worth giving CRK a call? I have heard they are pretty reasonable with giving a deal over the phone. CRK are the Aussie distributor www.pentax.com.au
Yeah - I tried to buy it through Amazon but they wouldn't ship to Oz - (at least that particular deal that Oldbayrunner linked). Thinking I'll go with eBay, despite loss of warranty it's still $400 cheaper than the same kit at Ted's.
11-28-2013, 11:03 PM   #29
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QuoteOriginally posted by ElJamoquio Quote

I like things underexposed...
beautiful. was that with the k30/50? What lens were you using?
11-29-2013, 06:47 AM   #30
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QuoteOriginally posted by watchingskyfallatm Quote
beautiful. was that with the k30/50? What lens were you using?
That was actually with the K-5 but the results would have been indistinguishable from the K-30/K-50. I used the 'kit' lens, which was the 'WR' version.

More pics here....

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/81-expired-listings/242182-sale-expired-p...5-6-al-wr.html

There's some cases where the kit lens comes up short but the sensor you're thinking about getting (whether K-5,K-30,K-50, or K-5II) has industry leading performance, which mitigates some of the lack-of-light-gathering-ability of the lens.

The audible noise of the lens, as I've said, is less disturbing than the shutter noise of the D600. If you're in a hyper-sensitive environment you can always manually focus, as well. You really can't beat some of the black friday deals - $600 for a K-5II + $150 or whatever for the WR lens.
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