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05-31-2012, 01:33 AM   #1
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Choose A Pentax K30 Vs K5

I'm debating on waiting for the K30 to show up on our shores in a month or two or buy a K5 now.Since the prices on both are pretty much on par with each other.I would like a few opinions from some K5 users for down the track which one would be the camera to spend the $$ on.I don't want to kick my self like I did with K100D,where the K10D came out not long after,in which I would have waited for the K10D if I have of known at the time.

05-31-2012, 01:59 AM   #2
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Keep in mind that the K-30 is an entry to mid-range DSLR, the K-5 is one level above that. They appear similar (check out the differences that might be important to you), but they really aren't, one is just newer. We are also expecting Pentax to soon announce a K-5 replacement (which should be better than the K-30). So decide what your budget is and find out what your needs are, then buy according to those.
05-31-2012, 02:06 AM   #3
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So maybe it might be even worth the wait for bit longer for the K5 replacement.But then again,it will depend on the price.
05-31-2012, 02:09 AM   #4
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I'd wait to see what's happened to Pentax AF in real life situations. If it has improved, that would be reason enough for me to buy a K-30 instead of a K-5.

05-31-2012, 02:16 AM   #5
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By the time the K-5 replacement comes out, the K-30's price may have gone down from introductory price... so you might want to wait further a bit (3 months 'til Photokina). If the AF-C speed+accuracy is almost the same as the K-30 or not that far, I'd rather have a K-5 (which will surely still have stocks in some stores).
05-31-2012, 05:17 AM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by Raffwal Quote
I'd wait to see what's happened to Pentax AF in real life situations. If it has improved, that would be reason enough for me to buy a K-30 instead of a K-5.
Keep in mind though that the K-5 will be a very significant AF upgrade over the K100d (if that is what you're still currently using).

To me the K-30 may have a few better numbers that are more consumer/entry level oriented (better video perhaps?) than the K-5, but overall the K-5 is still the better camera, especially at prices that are close to or matching what the K-30 will release at. Keep in mind that there is a fine line for the pricing of the K-5; typically once the new model is announced/released and existing stock dwindles prices will likely go up rather than down. At around $900 new that camera is a steal.
05-31-2012, 05:34 AM   #7
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I tend to agree w/ @pxpaulx, if there is a time in the product lifecycle to buy the K-5, it is now. If video production is not that important to you, then the K-30's slight video improvements are not that big of a deal, and neither is a replacement for a video camera in any case. (I wish that were not true, but alas, I'm shopping for a video cam.) The K-5 is a great camera, very professional build quality, compared to all others at its price range.

I suppose the K-5 autofocus has some room for improvement but you might need to wait one or two months just to collect reviews on the K-30 autofocus capability. If you can wait, that's fine. But a K-5 replacement is just speculation and rumor, with respect to release date, and will be much more expensive than either. Ok, that is speculation as well.

Just my $.02..

05-31-2012, 05:36 AM   #8
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Maybe don't listen to me, I have the K-5 so I am little biased.
05-31-2012, 05:39 AM   #9
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Agreed

QuoteOriginally posted by Alizarine Quote
By the time the K-5 replacement comes out, the K-30's price may have gone down from introductory price... so you might want to wait further a bit (3 months 'til Photokina). If the AF-C speed+accuracy is almost the same as the K-30 or not that far, I'd rather have a K-5 (which will surely still have stocks in some stores).
Bonjour,

I would say that this is good advice ... maybe wait a few more months and read the upcoming photo mag reviews... or even longer until the end-of-the-year promo's/sales ... if it's a performance "tie" then I'd opt for the K-5's feature set especially if we get "focus peeking" in the next firmware update. (fingers crossed here!)

Salut, John le Frog
05-31-2012, 05:49 AM   #10
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I would wait for K30, may be better AF and may be more reliability - mirror flop issue is keep on repeating for K-5. Since K30 is not very far, I would wait for K30.
05-31-2012, 06:09 AM   #11
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I would wait for coupla months to see dpreview and imaging-resoruce lab results for comparison and to read about peoples comments.
05-31-2012, 06:33 AM   #12
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continue to wait, then the K5 replacement will be replaced, and the autofocus should be amazing....lol
05-31-2012, 06:42 AM   #13
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I think there are a few things that remain unanswered. Differences in auto focus aren't clear to me, although the K30 may be better. The K5 also may have a deeper buffer (not sure about this). The K5 can do 24 frames of RAW in buffer, while, initial indications were that K30 could do 8 (this may change with final firmware -- ogl indicated that it probably will). The K5 has grip option (which really puts it over the top in my book). Finally, there are the (very minor differences) in 14 versus 13 bit processing.

All in all, I would wait till the K30 is actually released to see the end specs and decide on what fits you best. Either camera will be awesome, though!
05-31-2012, 07:38 AM   #14
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Others have said it...but I'd wait. To me, the K30 says that K5 type specs are only the entry point to the new Ricoh/Pentax offerings.
05-31-2012, 08:39 AM   #15
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you can wait 2 months for the reviews on the k30, then it will be only 2 more months for the k-5 replacement....then 2 more months for the reviews....and so on
or you can buy something...now
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