[jules99]

My K30 has now completely given up - even on auto settings. I have been struggling with the known aperture issues for a few months now and was planning on buying a K70. One, yes one, arrives with my local dealer tomorrow. However, I am concerned that this may also develop the same problems. The K70 is so new to the market that i'm dithering but have been committed to Pentax because of the lenses I have. What, if any, good comments, reassurances, can anyone give me?

[clackers]

It may well be the same mechanism, Jules - it seems to have been used in lots of Pentaxes over the years. Personally, it wouldn't stop me, but depending on your psychology you might go for an extended warranty.

[BigMackCam]

Sorry to hear about your K-30, Jules. We won't know the longevity of the K-70's mechanics until it has seen lengthy use by some owners, so I don't think anyone can give you reassurances based on known facts.

Personally, I'd recommend you spend an extra £60 and go for the K-3. Yes, it's an outgoing model, but still current - and it's an absolute bargain at current prices. It's a very robust and proven camera with superb IQ and a specified shutter life of 200,000 actuations (the K-70's shutter life is not specified, as far as I'm aware). It isn't compatible with the new KAF4 DA55-300, but that won't be a limitation for all but the smallest group of users. Of course, you could go for the K-3II which is KAF4 compatible, but that costs more.

Unless the K-70 offers you facilities you think you'll genuinely need (rather than neat features that really only have passing novelty value for you), I'd consider the K-3

[Giklab]

K-70 is rated to the usual 100k IIRC. The faulty aperture mechanisms have been repaired with no subsequent problems as far as I'm aware (and in my experience as well). I doubt any K-70 would have the old faulty mechanism.

[pepperberry farm]

Sorry to hear about your K-30, Jules. We won't know the longevity of the K-70's mechanics until it has seen lengthy use by some owners, so I don't think anyone can give you reassurances based on known facts.

Personally, I'd recommend you spend an extra £60 and go for the K-3. Yes, it's an outgoing model, but still current - and it's an absolute bargain at current prices. It's a very robust and proven camera with superb IQ and a specified shutter life of 200,000 actuations (the K-70's shutter life is not specified, as far as I'm aware). It isn't compatible with the new KAF4 DA55-300, but that won't be a limitation for all but the smallest group of users. Of course, you could go for the K-3II which is KAF4 compatible, but that costs more.

Unless the K-70 offers you facilities you think you'll genuinely need (rather than neat features that really only have passing novelty value for you), I'd consider the K-3

this - the K-3 has been a proven-reliable body.....

[Na Horuk]

And the K-3 is also an upgrade to a higher tier, not just moving along with technological evolution.
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Feel free to buy used or to buy extended warranty to minimize such problems

[rrstuff]

Get a K-3. If it was a canon or nikon they would be charging $1200 for it.

[normhead]

I'm thinking of getting a K-70, but as a back special purpose camera (low angle with the screen and Pixel shift). I wouldn't even be thinking that if my k-3 had died.

[THoog]

What, if any, good comments, reassurances, can anyone give me?

I think everyone already said what I was going to say. I will add that from what I've heard of the PF survey, the odds are at least three to one against a failure. That's not nearly good enough, and no comfort when you've been the "one", but the odds really are that your camera won't die.

I'm thinking of getting a K-70, but as a back special purpose camera (low angle with the screen and Pixel shift)

I had been toying with the idea of a K-3 / II for the extra resolution for zoopix, and I'd been toying with the idea of a K-S2 for the flippy screen - I already like the 20MP sensor in the K-S1. Then the K-70 was announced, and it seems like Pentax has been reading my mind again. (They shouldn't do that - I don't even listen to me half the time!) So I'll probably get one, but I'll probably get an extended warranty (which I would do even if it was a K-3xxx).

[Saltwater Images]

When I went from a K-100D Super to a K-5II the leap was amazing. The higher end models are quieter (sound of the shutter is contained better in a magnesium alloy body), the ergonomics are better and the AF is faster. I recently compared the AF on a K-3II to that of my K-5II with the fast focusing DA 70 Ltd. The difference was noticeable. A K-3 or K-3II would be a solid investment. They also have a much longer shutter life. Now that I have a K-5II my upgrade path is a K-3II - I wouldn't be able to go back to the polycarbonate series.

[C_Jones]

I have a K-3II. It is an excellent camera. It includes the GPS and the pixel shift resolution features.

[Des]

K-70 is a lot of camera for the money, with the now-proven 24mp sensor, no AA filter, flippy screeen, and numerous other updates.

But I would say what most others here have said: unless you really want the lighter weight, or the flippy screen, or some other particular feature, a K-3 or K-3ii is a better proposition, for durability and quality over the medium to long term.

I went from K100D Super to K-30 (x2) to K-3, and while each has been a big jump the move to a flagship model was still a revelation. There are many little things that you get with a flagship model: solid feel, quiet shutter, bigger battery with more life and more AF power, dedicated buttons for things like ISO, countless extra customisation options, top LCD screen, etc etc.

One that matters to me is the way it deals with dust. Dust spots have been frequent with the K-30, but rare with K-3, and I attribute that to the “DR II” dust removal system that uses a piezoelectric element to produce ultrasonic vibrations to clean the image sensor: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/246184-dust-removal-question-k-3-a.html. Dust alert is handy too.

I got my secondhand K-3 last year for much less than the price of a new intermediate level model (then the KS-2). It was a much better buy.

[KDD]

There are nNO NEW BRAND for K-3!!??!!

[Des]

There are nNO NEW BRAND for K-3!!??!!

If you mean that the K-3 is no longer available new, it's true that is no longer in production, but there is still old stock of new K-3s around, e.g.
Pentax K-3 DSLR Camera Body 15530 B&H Photo Video - $699, body only.
For comparison, the K-70 body only at B&H is $647: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1257876-REG/pentax_16243_k_70_dslr_camera_body.html

But buying used with a warranty is also worth considering. B&H has used K-3s (body only) from $540: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/used/1007545/pentax_15530_k_3_dslr_camera.html
(This is not a plug for a particular dealer, just an indication of how prices compare.)

[BigMackCam]

There are nNO NEW BRAND for K-3!!??!!

Plenty of new K-3 available off-the-shelf here in the UK and Europe...