Upgrading From K-x

lost.echo · 09-14-2012, 09:45 PM

So I plan on upgrading from my k-x soon and I'm unsure of what camera to get next.
I'm currently looking between the K-5 and the K-30. I need help deciding which one to get. So please help me! Thanks!

Laurentiu Cristofor · 09-14-2012, 10:41 PM

Wait. Better things will be announced soon. And if not, then you'll be glad you kept your money.

lost.echo · 09-14-2012, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor

Wait. Better things will be announced soon. And if not, then you'll be glad you kept your money.

Ahaha alright thanks for the advice

TZH · 09-15-2012, 12:15 AM

I'll vote for K30

aurele · 09-15-2012, 03:14 AM

i'd get the K30.

Why ?

The K30 has almost the same guts as the K5, plus an improve AF system (according to the first comments of the earliy adopters), improve live view and video fonctions, WR, etc ...

Now, the only thing the K5 have "more" than the K30 is few switch like Raw / jpeg, AF-S /AF-C, etc ... overall ergo is a bit better than the K30. But the ergo of the K30 is almost the same as the K-x, so you won't be any lost with the K30.

So, if, like me, you are always in the same file format and you don't change it often, if you always use the center point AF, and the center weight exposure, then the K30 may really be a better choice.

And it's getting cheaper

Just remember to pick a WR kit instead of the usual DA-AL (so, non WR) if you take the K30.

**i_trax** · 09-15-2012, 03:14 AM

I would go with K-30 ( just received AA adapter , can share now batteries with K-x ) there is a lot about this matter on all forums + flickr
Flickr: Discussing K-5 vs. K-30, the question everyone is probably trying to avoid! in Pentax K-30

Anvh · 09-15-2012, 04:39 AM

K30 would be a neatural step unless you will shoot RAW all the time.

voyager13 · 09-15-2012, 04:50 AM

Now than that's INTERESTING!!!!
I had often wondered about how different these two (k30 and k5) are in terms of image quality and ease of use and have always read high praises of K5, which I am sure it lives up to, but hardly heard anyone like k30 over k5. I don't own either hence don't know enough, but its interesting how k30 seems to measure up to its famous sibling.

Anvh · 09-15-2012, 06:29 AM

K5 has more buttons so more manual input that is more suited for Manual mode shooting or more advance shooting for example.
The K30 delivers enough control to make the amateur shooters more then satisfied.

When it comes to image quality the K5 would have a slight edge when shooting in RAW, that's why i said when you shoot in RAW the K5 might be a better choice but that also depends on your other needs.

aurele · 09-15-2012, 03:14 PM

I forgot the main advantage of the K-5 : the almost silent shutter.
And for me, well, that's the only big disapointement of the K30, the shutter is like the K-r : noisy !

rawr · 09-15-2012, 07:59 PM

On the pro side, ergonomically the K-30 is pretty good for K-x users - the K-30 button and knob placement is very similar to the K-x, for example, whereas the K-5 is very different. Green button placement, and play button placement too, IMHO, is better on the K-x/K-30 than the K-5.

You can also pretty much do everything with the K-x/K-30 in one hand (shoot, menu adjustments, review/play), with the K-5 you need two hands.

But the K-5 has a very quiet shutter, takes a grip, slightly higher fps, 14bit RAW, has an X-sync socket, microphone plug etc which are all useful things too.

lost.echo · 09-15-2012, 11:02 PM

Ahah I really like the idea of the quiet shutter and 14bit raw. But I like the improved auto focus and button placement of the K-30... Such a dilemma >.<

voyager13 · 09-15-2012, 11:14 PM

Originally posted by lost.echo

But I like the improved auto focus

Isn't the autofocus capability of both cameras the same? Have read the K-5 excels in AF-C, especially compared to the K-7, and I would think the K-30 would be thereabouts too. Would be great to know from someone who has tested both for its AF-C focusing.

Gareth.Ig · 09-15-2012, 11:52 PM

Frankly, I don't think you can make a bad decision here. Both appear to be excellent cameras.

I just made the decision for a K-5 to upgrade the K-x. The quiet shutter was a big factor, but also the accessory availability and magnesium construction for the K-5 over the K-30. I like to fiddle with my stuff and I'm also a bit careless, so ruggedness is a big factor.

Anvh · 09-16-2012, 12:11 AM

Originally posted by voyager13

Isn't the autofocus capability of both cameras the same? Have read the K-5 excels in AF-C, especially compared to the K-7, and I would think the K-30 would be thereabouts too. Would be great to know from someone who has tested both for its AF-C focusing.

nope one in the K30 is better and the one in k5 mkII should be even more better.

09-14-2012, 09:45 PM	#1
lost.echo Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The Bay Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 29	Upgrading From K-x So I plan on upgrading from my k-x soon and I'm unsure of what camera to get next. I'm currently looking between the K-5 and the K-30. I need help deciding which one to get. So please help me! Thanks!

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09-14-2012, 10:41 PM	#2
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	Wait. Better things will be announced soon. And if not, then you'll be glad you kept your money.

09-14-2012, 10:46 PM	#3
lost.echo Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The Bay Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 29 Original Poster	Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor Wait. Better things will be announced soon. And if not, then you'll be glad you kept your money. Ahaha alright thanks for the advice

09-15-2012, 12:15 AM	#4
TZH Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 118	I'll vote for K30

09-15-2012, 03:14 AM	#5
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	i'd get the K30. Why ? The K30 has almost the same guts as the K5, plus an improve AF system (according to the first comments of the earliy adopters), improve live view and video fonctions, WR, etc ... Now, the only thing the K5 have "more" than the K30 is few switch like Raw / jpeg, AF-S /AF-C, etc ... overall ergo is a bit better than the K30. But the ergo of the K30 is almost the same as the K-x, so you won't be any lost with the K30. So, if, like me, you are always in the same file format and you don't change it often, if you always use the center point AF, and the center weight exposure, then the K30 may really be a better choice. And it's getting cheaper Just remember to pick a WR kit instead of the usual DA-AL (so, non WR) if you take the K30.

09-15-2012, 03:14 AM	#6
i_trax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,621	I would go with K-30 ( just received AA adapter , can share now batteries with K-x ) there is a lot about this matter on all forums + flickr Flickr: Discussing K-5 vs. K-30, the question everyone is probably trying to avoid! in Pentax K-30

09-15-2012, 04:39 AM	#7
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	K30 would be a neatural step unless you will shoot RAW all the time.

09-15-2012, 04:50 AM	#8
voyager13 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sweden Posts: 211	Now than that's INTERESTING!!!! I had often wondered about how different these two (k30 and k5) are in terms of image quality and ease of use and have always read high praises of K5, which I am sure it lives up to, but hardly heard anyone like k30 over k5. I don't own either hence don't know enough, but its interesting how k30 seems to measure up to its famous sibling.

09-15-2012, 06:29 AM	#9
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	K5 has more buttons so more manual input that is more suited for Manual mode shooting or more advance shooting for example. The K30 delivers enough control to make the amateur shooters more then satisfied. When it comes to image quality the K5 would have a slight edge when shooting in RAW, that's why i said when you shoot in RAW the K5 might be a better choice but that also depends on your other needs.

09-15-2012, 03:14 PM	#10
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	I forgot the main advantage of the K-5 : the almost silent shutter. And for me, well, that's the only big disapointement of the K30, the shutter is like the K-r : noisy !

09-15-2012, 07:59 PM	#11
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	On the pro side, ergonomically the K-30 is pretty good for K-x users - the K-30 button and knob placement is very similar to the K-x, for example, whereas the K-5 is very different. Green button placement, and play button placement too, IMHO, is better on the K-x/K-30 than the K-5. You can also pretty much do everything with the K-x/K-30 in one hand (shoot, menu adjustments, review/play), with the K-5 you need two hands. But the K-5 has a very quiet shutter, takes a grip, slightly higher fps, 14bit RAW, has an X-sync socket, microphone plug etc which are all useful things too.

09-15-2012, 11:02 PM	#12
lost.echo Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The Bay Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 29 Original Poster	Ahah I really like the idea of the quiet shutter and 14bit raw. But I like the improved auto focus and button placement of the K-30... Such a dilemma >.<

09-15-2012, 11:14 PM	#13
voyager13 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sweden Posts: 211	Originally posted by lost.echo But I like the improved auto focus Isn't the autofocus capability of both cameras the same? Have read the K-5 excels in AF-C, especially compared to the K-7, and I would think the K-30 would be thereabouts too. Would be great to know from someone who has tested both for its AF-C focusing.

09-15-2012, 11:52 PM	#14
Gareth.Ig Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cochrane, AB Photos: Gallery Posts: 508	Frankly, I don't think you can make a bad decision here. Both appear to be excellent cameras. I just made the decision for a K-5 to upgrade the K-x. The quiet shutter was a big factor, but also the accessory availability and magnesium construction for the K-5 over the K-30. I like to fiddle with my stuff and I'm also a bit careless, so ruggedness is a big factor.

09-16-2012, 12:11 AM	#15
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Originally posted by voyager13 Isn't the autofocus capability of both cameras the same? Have read the K-5 excels in AF-C, especially compared to the K-7, and I would think the K-30 would be thereabouts too. Would be great to know from someone who has tested both for its AF-C focusing. nope one in the K30 is better and the one in k5 mkII should be even more better.