Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
06-01-2019, 10:20 AM   #1
Forum Member




Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 79
K30->kp

I'm looking at new cameras. I don't need to get one but I've been using the K30 for years now. I overcame the aperture failure by opening it up and soldering and messing with the magnet (solution found on the forums). It still works and when I put it back together it wasn't the best job ever.

I'm wondering how good the KP is. If I upgrade if I should get a KP or try for something like a K3 or K3II.

06-01-2019, 11:04 AM   #2
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Southeastern Michigan
Posts: 4,508
You will especially love the superior low noise with higher ISO performance of the KP, while doing an excellent job of preserving fine detail. There are many upgrades, such as its 5-axis SR, along with the tilting rear screen and great magnesium alloy construction. I have found metering and image quality to be exceptional, even JPEGs right out of the camera, in which case be sure to implement "Fine Sharpening" in the Custom Image menus, at least in the most often used "Bright" category.
06-01-2019, 11:16 AM - 1 Like   #3
Senior Member




Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Hannover
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 163
I upgraded from a K-S2 to a Kp and the leap is massive.
Is noticeable better at autofocus, build, shake reduction, burst rate and incredible high ISO capability.

Absolutely love the 3rd wheel, use it for ISO control.
06-01-2019, 11:21 AM - 1 Like   #4
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
ramseybuckeye's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hampstead, NC
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 17,276
I had a K-30 and K-50 and bought a KP, The KP is fantastic. Nearly everything about it is an improvement, the low light capability is very noticeable. I really like the moving screen as opposed to a fixed screen, more than I expected. The only negative is that it doesn't use a wireless remote, but I've got used to that by using the delay or even a cheap wired remote. I wish it had a GPS, but that's not a deal breaker either. I've not complained about the K-30 autofocus, but the KP seems much faster. I also bought the 55-300 PLM lens which is a perfect match with the KP for fast autofocus.

06-21-2019, 08:58 AM - 1 Like   #5
Forum Member




Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 54
I went from a K50 to a KP, mainly because I fancied a KP and there was a great deal on.
It took me a little while to get used to it and I'm still gettting the hang of it. But I'm very happy with the focusing and exposure side of things. It seems to get more things right more of the time.
06-21-2019, 09:29 AM   #6
Pentaxian
reh321's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Bend, IN, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 23,126
I went from a K-30 to a KP on Black Friday. The only weakness I've found is {literally} the top piece that holds the useless OnBoard Flash. Apparently I bumped it sometime Saturday - not enough for me to notice but enough to crack the Plastic {and now I am missing a small piece}, I took about twenty-five very pleasing photos with it after I noticed the 'damage', though.
06-21-2019, 11:58 AM - 1 Like   #7
Veteran Member
SSGGeezer's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Indiana, U.S.
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,845
I went from a K-50 to a KP and have been amazed by many improvements over the K-50, (K-30s bigger twin brother.) Better dust removal, better high ISO performance, quieter shutter, tilt screen, faster electronic shutter, no AA filter!, perfect with Limiteds as is, still great with long lenses, especially with the battery grip, (NA for K-50.)

06-26-2019, 09:08 AM   #8
Pentaxian
reh321's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Bend, IN, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 23,126
QuoteOriginally posted by reh321 Quote
The only weakness I've found is {literally} the top piece that holds the useless OnBoard Flash. Apparently I bumped it sometime Saturday - not enough for me to notice but enough to crack the Plastic {and now I am missing a small piece}, I took about twenty-five very pleasing photos with it after I noticed the 'damage', though.
Well, here it is after several liberal applications of "Gorilla Glue". I accidentally got enough glue between the piece that raises and the fixed piece that everything is fixed now, but I never had any plans to use the OnBoard Flash. The triangular piece is the one that was completely separate - but I managed to save it in my camera bag through a day of touristing. Everything is stable and feels solid now, and there aren't any sharp edges to snag my bag or clothing - most important, everything {except the flash} still works.
Attached Images
 

Last edited by reh321; 07-07-2019 at 02:18 PM. Reason: fix word choice
07-04-2019, 08:33 PM   #9
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
mgvh's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MD
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,029
I went from K-30 to K-3 and enjoyed the bump up in performance, both in terms of ISO/low light and overall resolution. I have now gone from the K-3 to the KP. The main things I like are: even better ISO/low light, resolution, smaller/lighter, tilting screen.
07-04-2019, 09:26 PM   #10
Moderator
Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
MarkJerling's Avatar

Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 20,391
QuoteOriginally posted by reh321 Quote
Well, here it is after several liberal applications of "Gorilla Glue". I accidentally got enough glue between the piece that raises and the fixed piece that everything is fixed now, but I never had any plans to use the OnBoard Flash. The triangular piece is the one that was completely separate - but I managed to save it in my camera bag through a day of touristing. Everything is stable and feels solid now, and there aren't any sharp edges to snap my bag or clothing - most important, everything {except the flash} still works.
What did you whack it against?
07-07-2019, 01:48 PM   #11
Pentaxian
reh321's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Bend, IN, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 23,126
QuoteOriginally posted by MarkJerling Quote
What did you whack it against?
That is a mystery. I had it in my bag, touristing around Cincinnati, and I had trouble getting it out of the bag ..... damaged area was catching on the bag. I must have hit something, but I just don't know. I had carried my K-30 in that bag for over a year without any 'excitement'.
Attached Images
 
07-07-2019, 03:27 PM   #12
Moderator
Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
MarkJerling's Avatar

Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 20,391
QuoteOriginally posted by reh321 Quote
That is a mystery. I had it in my bag, touristing around Cincinnati, and I had trouble getting it out of the bag ..... damaged area was catching on the bag. I must have hit something, but I just don't know. I had carried my K-30 in that bag for over a year without any 'excitement'.
Ouch! And looks like a reasonably padded bag too. Very odd.
07-07-2019, 04:22 PM   #13
Pentaxian
reh321's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Bend, IN, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 23,126
QuoteOriginally posted by MarkJerling Quote
Ouch! And looks like a reasonably padded bag too. Very odd.
Important thing is that this is essentially cosmetic damage {since I never planned to use the OBF}. I am still getting great results from "insanely high" ISO values.
07-07-2019, 05:44 PM   #14
Moderator
Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
MarkJerling's Avatar

Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 20,391
QuoteOriginally posted by reh321 Quote
Important thing is that this is essentially cosmetic damage {since I never planned to use the OBF}. I am still getting great results from "insanely high" ISO values.
May be so, but it must have been something hard and quite a whack to get that to happen. Odd.
07-07-2019, 06:26 PM - 1 Like   #15
Senior Member




Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Westbrook, ME, USA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 288
The main thing I prefer about the KP vs the K-50 I had previously is the on-body controls, which are just fantastic. Once you get the hang of it, you can make a complex series of settings changes quickly without diving into the menus.

Also it has Ricoh's edge peaking (from the GR cameras) which is fantastic, particularly when composing a difficult subject when focusing manually.

Oh and the articulating screen is great.

I guess overall I would say that the image quality boost is modest but the "camera as tool" boost is significant. All you have to do is get used to that weird grip. I was having the hardest time with it and then one day my hand just figured it out.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
kp, pentax kp
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
LR>Plugins>LR>PS>Plugins>LR>Save as a Preset? BruceBanner Digital Processing, Software, and Printing 3 04-23-2018 11:59 AM
Menu>Custom>Change AF Point Button>Type1 or Type2 BruceBanner Pentax K-1 & K-1 II 6 10-02-2017 06:48 PM
People My New Baby >>> NOTE: I paid a photographer Blacknight659 Post Your Photos! 7 10-06-2016 02:25 PM
Ricoh GR WR >>> Anybody? Blacknight659 Pentax Compact Cameras 5 07-15-2016 05:30 PM
Greeting every one >>>picture from THAILAND ballbkk Post Your Photos! 15 02-05-2009 01:55 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:58 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top