[TonyTurley]

Greetings all. My new Pentax K-30 arrived just today from Amazon. I got a body only kit, because I really prefer using legacy lenses. I'm a long time Sony user, most recently with a Nex-5R. As much as I like that camera, its lack of view finder makes it a pain to use in bright sunlight. I also wanted a weather sealed camera, and I really didn't care for any of the Sony A-mounts. Thus, I started looking at Pentax, knowing I also wanted a DSLR form factor. My only other Pentax was an Optio A30 P&S. Everything I read kept pointing me back to the K-30 as the best value for my $$.

The pics that follow were from a quick session I set up in my TV room. The first is the new K-30 taken with my Nex-5R and a Minolta Rokkor-X 50/1.7. The second is my 5R taken with the K-30 and an Asahi SMC Pentax-M 50/1.7. Settings were ISO 1600, 1/15, and f/4 in both pics. The third is of both cameras, using my wife's Sony H20 P&S. It is my understanding that the 16Mp APS-C K-30 sensor is made by Sony; could it be the same one as the 5R?

Although the K-30 is my first personal DSLR, I've used others. My first impression is the Sony focus peaking is easier to use. Note the lettering on the front of the lens in the Sony pic is sharper than that taken by the Pentax. I used both live view focus peaking and looking through the pentaprism to try to get the best focus with the Pentax. I will chalk this up to unfamiliarity with the camera. The room was dark except for the Christmas tree lights, and I had a large flashlight trained on each camera as I focused and snapped the shutter. I figured that might make things a bit more difficult, too, but that's the effect I wanted.

My Sony days aren't behind me; my plan is to use both cameras, rotating them as the situation arises. I have to admit, I do like the ergonomics of the Pentax. I have a couple of M42 lenses already on hand and a couple more Yashicas on the way, as well as a genuine Pentax M42 to K-mount adapter. That will let me mix some of the old screw mount lenses between cameras.

Photography was already fun; it just got a lot more fun!

Tony

[eaglem]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for the interesting introduction.

[TER-OR]

Welcome aboard!

We used to get down to WV for rafting and other outdoorsy stuff back in college and a while after. Since moving to Illinois it's a much longer drive than from Columbus or Cincinnati... I'd put the 18-135 on that K30 and get lost in the forests!

[Kerrowdown]

Photography was already fun; it just got a lot more fun

Welcome to the forum, the second image of the Sony is all lens and no camera.

[TonyTurley]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

. . . the second image of the Sony is all lens and no camera.

You should see it with my 60s era Minolta 30cm lens.

Tony

[Chief]

Howdy fellow Mountaineer. I know where Scott Depot is. I'm in Wayne County. Welcome aboard.

[Mikesul]

Welcome to Pentax, Tony.

[kevinWE]

Welcome aboard.

[cg57]

Welcome! Lots of support and knowledge here on PF!

[MotoRider]

Welcome, enjoy the community here

[KSSteve]

Welcome.

[VILLAINofOZ]

Welcome to the Pentax forums from Australia.
To answer your question, the K-30 is equipped with a Sony 16Mpix CMOS sensor. It isn't the only Pentax to feature a Sony sensor either. I may be wrong but I think most Pentax DSLR's use a Sony sensor.
I think the K20D and the K7 use a Samsung sensor.
The 645 uses a Kodak from memory and I think the 1st K1 used a Phillips sensor.
Again...I may be wrong with this info.
Enjoy the forums.

[Liney]

Hello Tony and welcome from South Aus, we look forward to you sharing your work with us

[troenaas]

Welcome to the forums from Norway...

[MTNcycler]

Welcome from a neighbor in Virginia!