[Adam]

News update from the official Pentax website:

Denver, CO – PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION today announces the introduction of its new weather and dust resistant digital SLR camera – the PENTAX K-30. Ideal for photographers with active outdoor lifestyles, the new PENTAX K-30 combines a compact, lightweight body with many advanced features found only in higher end DSLR camera models, such as a weather, dust and cold resistant body...

Pentax news announcement: https://www.pentaxforums.com/news/pentax-k-30-officially-announced.html

Adam
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[JinDesu]

"Capabilities" Adam.

My god that Blue is just beautiful in that picture...

[jct us101]

That is the ugliest DSLR I have ever seen.

And I've seen the Olympus E-330.

[twitch]

Looks fantastic to me. I'm please to see it has the K-5 feaures of a cable release switch, and a drive mode with timer+bracketing.

RAW buffer depth of 8 frames (if I'm reading it right) seems bad though.

[LaurenOE]

Honestly? I think the K-01 just sh** a brick - oh wait - it's already one. No, just kidding. With the K-30? Focus peaking? Full Penta Prism? Wired Remote? Same Video function? Revamped AF system? Weather sealing? Wow!

If the K-30 has video out via an HDMI port during video record mode, the K-01 is dead.

[sjwaldron]

If the K-30 has video out via an HDMI port during video record mode, the K-01 is dead.

No go on that. No HDMI and no MIC port.

[LaurenOE]

No go on that. No HDMI and no MIC port.

Thanks. I managed to see the side views and realized that was probably the case. Oh well. Still, it's an amazing camera that will foreshadow the demise of the K-01.

I can't imagine why anyone would want a K-01 after this.

[sjwaldron]

Thanks. I managed to see the side views and realized that was probably the case. Oh well. Still, it's an amazing camera that will foreshadow the demise of the K-01.

I can't imagine why anyone would want a K-01 after this.

Honestly, as a K-7/K-5 user, the K-01 is still pretty appealing if it weren't for the non-photographer design and ergonomics (a green button that can't easily be reached for example). I'm still unsure if I will make one of these two releases my replacement for my K-7 that has some issues.

Both the K-01 and K-30 share positives over the K-5:
- Better video recording.
- Better live view (faster, focus peaking).
- Slightly or somewhat smaller.
- Cheaper at the moment.
- um....not sure what else.

Negatives of the K-30 from a K-5 user perspective who wants a second/backup body:
- Doesn't use the same batteries as the K-5.
- Doesn't appear to be any smaller than a K-5.
- Doesn't have a dedicated video button.
- Loud shutter/mirror system from the K-r system most likely.
- No MIC port (I use mine on the K-7/K-5 a lot because I do low-budget Youtube videos without a separate audio recorder)
- The exterior is entirely plastic (The K-01 has aluminum top and bottom panels)

However, of course, there are a lot of positives to the K-30.
- 100% viewfinder.
- Dual scroll wheels.
- Better ergonomics compared to the K-01.
- Weather Resistance.
- A bit cheaper than the K-5 at the moment.
- Improved AF performance, most likely the best Pentax yet.
- 1/6000th max shutter instead of 1/4000th of the K-01.

So I could get one of these two, or I could wait for the next semi-pro/pro body. The positive is that I have a decent chance at affording a lens I want if I go with one of these instead of the next K-5 replacement. If the K-01 were $200 cheaper rather than $100 cheaper (body only price), I'd probably go with that without much question.

[aleonx3]

That is the ugliest DSLR I have ever seen.

And I've seen the Olympus E-330.

Wow, I am stumped... well you are entitled to your opinion I guess.

[Alizarine]

*looks at camera, looks at specs.* What on earth? This for real? PENTAPRISM?!
*looks at wallet*

$899 where are you?

by the way, where's PEF? Is it DNG-only?

btw, only gripe so far:



Why, oh why did they have to change that part of the layout

[boriscleto]

*looks at camera, looks at specs.* What on earth? This for real? PENTAPRISM?!
*looks at wallet*

$899 where are you?

by the way, where's PEF? Is it DNG-only?

Pentax dropped PEF with the K-01. I doubt you will ever see it again.

[sjwaldron]

Why, oh why did they have to change that part of the layout

They needed a place for quick ISO access. K-5 has a dedicated button of course. I don't care much for the dropped item (color tone or whatever it is I don't need to care about with RAW). A decent compromise there.

[Eruditass]

They needed a place for quick ISO access. K-5 has a dedicated button of course. I don't care much for the dropped item (color tone or whatever it is I don't need to care about with RAW). A decent compromise there.

That's fine. The most annoying part is mixing up the position of the buttons to me.

[twitch]

That's fine. The most annoying part is mixing up the position of the buttons to me.

I agree, and for what reason? It would make using this camera and a K-5 side by side difficult.

[bossa]

By the time Photokina rolls around there'll be one or two top line products left to [announce that will] star at the show. I think it might be a good time to sell my K-5's.