Question for K-30 users about the Top LCD

wowarning · 06-16-2013, 09:49 AM

I've had an IST DS for a hundred years, the flash stopped working, and I can finally justify getting a new DSLR. I was weighing heavily between the K5 and K30, and now with the K50 in the lineup that has become my 'other choice'. The biggest reason I'm leaning towards the K5 over the K30/50 is the lack of the top LCD display on the body. I used it constantly on the DS and fear I would regret not having it. Do any of you that had a camera that had it and then went without regret not having it?

**patrick9** · 06-16-2013, 10:26 AM

I still have my DL as a second body. I don't miss the top lcd screen near as much as I was afraid I would. In fact I have gotten to the point that I don't even think about it No regrets with the K-30 not having it.

bluenose · 06-16-2013, 10:33 AM

Originally posted by patrick9

I still have my DL as a second body. I don't miss the top lcd screen near as much as I was afraid I would. In fact I have gotten to the point that I don't even think about it No regrets with the K-30 not having it.

I went from the K200 which has the top LCD screen to the K-30 and similar to patrick9's experience have found that I don't miss having it.

Regards

**jlstrawman** · 06-16-2013, 10:54 AM

I had the K-5 for nearly a year. I never felt a bond or connection with the K-5. I had a K100D and K100D Super (still have both). I find the K-30
to fit my needs perfectly. I do not miss the top LCD at all. The controls of the K-30 are well-placed and intuitive, IMHO. The K-30 is a fine camera. I suspect most people would need to continue to improve their technique before they utilize the K-30 to the fullest.

jcdoss · 06-16-2013, 11:37 AM

Are you guys leaving your back LCD on to view settings, or are you getting everything you need from the viewfinder?

I'm used to having an LCD, and I do miss it on my K30.

bluenose · 06-16-2013, 11:57 AM

Originally posted by jcdoss

Are you guys leaving your back LCD on to view settings, or are you getting everything you need from the viewfinder?

I'm used to having an LCD, and I do miss it on my K30.

The back LCD is set to view the settings and I generally give it a quick glance before shooting, during which I use the viewfinder display.

Regards

**kiwi_jono** · 06-16-2013, 12:14 PM

I have a K-x and a K-5. I find that I only use the top LCD when the camera is on a tripod. Most of the time with the camera hand held I use the rear LCD - its just more convenient.
Don't hugely miss the LCD going back to K-x myself but if you do a lot of tripod work it might be a different story. For me a K-30 would have been a viable alternative (but I do love my K-5).

jcdoss · 06-16-2013, 12:29 PM

I wonder if the K50 has the ability to manually power off the rear LCD? Or, if Pentax would consider offering that ability to us K30'ers in the next firmware upgrade?

**patrick9** · 06-16-2013, 06:49 PM

Originally posted by bluenose

The back LCD is set to view the settings and I generally give it a quick glance before shooting, during which I use the viewfinder display.

I am in full agreement

**patrick9** · 06-16-2013, 06:56 PM

Originally posted by jcdoss

I wonder if the K50 has the ability to manually power off the rear LCD? Or, if Pentax would consider offering that ability to us K30'ers in the next firmware upgrade?

It is done with the info button second push offers to turn off the rear LCD on the K-30

Ken T · 06-16-2013, 07:20 PM

Actually I use the rear LCD on my K-30 a lot, and I am not missing top LCD which rarely used on my K-20D at all.

rawr · 06-16-2013, 07:24 PM

Top LCD is handy to quickly confirm settings, available shots, battery status etc when the camera is carried on a neck strap. Top LCD is nice to have, but not a deal breaker.

K McCall · 06-16-2013, 07:31 PM

I came from a camera that had a top LCD that I used all the time. I DO miss the top screen a bit, but only because I'm not used to all the buttons' functions. I use the back LCD and feel it's a little clumsier than the workflow I had before, but I imagine with time I'll get used to it. Overall I love the camera and how it feels in my hand...and the pictures are nice too

Adinfinitum · 06-16-2013, 08:32 PM

+1

All my previous cameras had a top LCD including my last - also an *ist DS. Moving to the K-30 I did not notice the absence of the top LCD in the slightest. Everything I need is on the back LCD or in the VF.

As it turned out, as much as I relied on it totally when it was there, it made no difference to me once it was no longer.

Eberbachl · 06-16-2013, 08:34 PM

I have a K-r and a K-5.

I use the top LCD on the K-5, but I have to say I don't miss it when shooting with the K-r. I just use the rear LCD and viewfinder. No problem.

06-16-2013, 09:49 AM	#1
wowarning Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 60	Question for K-30 users about the Top LCD I've had an IST DS for a hundred years, the flash stopped working, and I can finally justify getting a new DSLR. I was weighing heavily between the K5 and K30, and now with the K50 in the lineup that has become my 'other choice'. The biggest reason I'm leaning towards the K5 over the K30/50 is the lack of the top LCD display on the body. I used it constantly on the DS and fear I would regret not having it. Do any of you that had a camera that had it and then went without regret not having it?

06-16-2013, 10:26 AM	#2
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	I still have my DL as a second body. I don't miss the top lcd screen near as much as I was afraid I would. In fact I have gotten to the point that I don't even think about it No regrets with the K-30 not having it. Last edited by patrick9; 06-16-2013 at 10:26 AM. Reason: Punctuation

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06-16-2013, 10:33 AM	#3
bluenose Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: S. Ontario Posts: 227	Originally posted by patrick9 I still have my DL as a second body. I don't miss the top lcd screen near as much as I was afraid I would. In fact I have gotten to the point that I don't even think about it No regrets with the K-30 not having it. I went from the K200 which has the top LCD screen to the K-30 and similar to patrick9's experience have found that I don't miss having it. Regards

06-16-2013, 10:54 AM	#4
jlstrawman Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Midwest US Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,058	I had the K-5 for nearly a year. I never felt a bond or connection with the K-5. I had a K100D and K100D Super (still have both). I find the K-30 to fit my needs perfectly. I do not miss the top LCD at all. The controls of the K-30 are well-placed and intuitive, IMHO. The K-30 is a fine camera. I suspect most people would need to continue to improve their technique before they utilize the K-30 to the fullest.

06-16-2013, 11:37 AM	#5
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,768	Are you guys leaving your back LCD on to view settings, or are you getting everything you need from the viewfinder? I'm used to having an LCD, and I do miss it on my K30.

06-16-2013, 11:57 AM	#6
bluenose Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: S. Ontario Posts: 227	Originally posted by jcdoss Are you guys leaving your back LCD on to view settings, or are you getting everything you need from the viewfinder? I'm used to having an LCD, and I do miss it on my K30. The back LCD is set to view the settings and I generally give it a quick glance before shooting, during which I use the viewfinder display. Regards

06-16-2013, 12:14 PM	#7
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	I have a K-x and a K-5. I find that I only use the top LCD when the camera is on a tripod. Most of the time with the camera hand held I use the rear LCD - its just more convenient. Don't hugely miss the LCD going back to K-x myself but if you do a lot of tripod work it might be a different story. For me a K-30 would have been a viable alternative (but I do love my K-5).

06-16-2013, 12:29 PM	#8
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,768	I wonder if the K50 has the ability to manually power off the rear LCD? Or, if Pentax would consider offering that ability to us K30'ers in the next firmware upgrade?

06-16-2013, 06:49 PM	#9
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	Originally posted by bluenose The back LCD is set to view the settings and I generally give it a quick glance before shooting, during which I use the viewfinder display. I am in full agreement

06-16-2013, 06:56 PM	#10
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	Originally posted by jcdoss I wonder if the K50 has the ability to manually power off the rear LCD? Or, if Pentax would consider offering that ability to us K30'ers in the next firmware upgrade? It is done with the info button second push offers to turn off the rear LCD on the K-30

06-16-2013, 07:20 PM	#11
Ken T Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: California, USA Posts: 536	Actually I use the rear LCD on my K-30 a lot, and I am not missing top LCD which rarely used on my K-20D at all.

06-16-2013, 07:24 PM	#12
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Top LCD is handy to quickly confirm settings, available shots, battery status etc when the camera is carried on a neck strap. Top LCD is nice to have, but not a deal breaker.

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06-16-2013, 07:31 PM	#13
K McCall Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 808	I came from a camera that had a top LCD that I used all the time. I DO miss the top screen a bit, but only because I'm not used to all the buttons' functions. I use the back LCD and feel it's a little clumsier than the workflow I had before, but I imagine with time I'll get used to it. Overall I love the camera and how it feels in my hand...and the pictures are nice too

06-16-2013, 08:32 PM	#14
Adinfinitum Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Wollondilly, NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 236	+1 All my previous cameras had a top LCD including my last - also an *ist DS. Moving to the K-30 I did not notice the absence of the top LCD in the slightest. Everything I need is on the back LCD or in the VF. As it turned out, as much as I relied on it totally when it was there, it made no difference to me once it was no longer.

06-16-2013, 08:34 PM	#15
Eberbachl Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Doreen Posts: 111	I have a K-r and a K-5. I use the top LCD on the K-5, but I have to say I don't miss it when shooting with the K-r. I just use the rear LCD and viewfinder. No problem.