K-30 styling: will it ever return?

dcpropilot · 02-17-2014, 03:35 AM - **4 Likes**

I absolutely love my K-30 styling. I just find the k-50 too plain vanilla for my liking. I hope Ricoh/Pentax brings back the K-30 styling rather than the generic look at some point.

Culture · 02-17-2014, 04:24 AM

I completely share your view. I also really like the K-30 styling. It is not vanilla at all. Even compared to other pentax models.

kentishrev · 02-17-2014, 05:07 AM

Originally posted by dcpropilot

I absolutely love my K-30 styling. I just find the k-50 too plain vanilla for my liking. I hope Ricoh/Pentax brings back the K-30 styling rather than the generic look at some point.

They got the Apple spirit on the K-30. Make it look good....and make it work well. Can't fail! I saw a cut-away of the K-30 once, which proved the top 'horn' has no function other than design. It's still great. Given Ricoh's excellent design brief with the GR, let's hope the continued Pentax/Ricoh approach leads to continued excellence in handling, image and design.

**Tony Belding** · 02-17-2014, 05:13 AM

I think it's funny to observe how opinions vary so wildly on styling. To me... Well, to me the K-30 looks like a cross between a Transformers toy and a cheap running shoe. Maybe it really appeals to the younger generation who watch those Transformers movies? If I had one, I'd probably get used to it pretty quickly. I got used to the yellow K-01, so I can probably adapt to anything.

However... Then I look at the K-50 and say: It's like they took the K-30 and stripped off all the layers of ugly! It looks like a real camera now. (But I'd get the K-50 in some color besides black, because that is kind of bland.)

GibbyTheMole · 02-17-2014, 07:01 AM

Originally posted by Tony Belding

Maybe it really appeals to the younger generation who watch those Transformers movies?

I'm an old 44 year old codger & I really like the bold and slightly aggressive style of the K-30. I think it's a great looking piece of gear, and it's styling sets it apart from the pack.

altopiet · 02-17-2014, 07:15 AM

Originally posted by Tony Belding

younger generation

How old are you...80?

Na Horuk · 02-17-2014, 08:28 AM

Its odd that all the cameras that were so criticized for their appearance when they first came out, are so popular now.
The K-01 was called a brick and ugly, now its almost a cult camera, with its funky colours. In Japan they even made a new run (the white/blue) because of the demand.
The K-30 was also criticized, that it has odd textures, doesn't look enough like a DSLR and things like that, but now that it was replaced with the classic-looking K-50, the demand for the K-30 is back, especially for its sporty looks

dansamy · 02-17-2014, 08:34 AM - **1 Like**

Maybe some of us want funky Transformers cameras! And yellow bricks!

StephenHampshire · 02-17-2014, 08:35 AM - **1 Like**

I'm 52 and have no problem with the styling of the K30, although mine is now in the hands of my 23 year old son! Still, I do find it hard to see the styling of a camera when looking through the viewfinder!

**monochrome** · 02-17-2014, 09:32 AM

IIRC there were several third-party lenses that didn't fit under the flash horn, so I suppose Ricoh took a 'form follows function' approach with the more classic design. Maybe there's a reason so many cameras share these basic dimensions, the way sedans share their basic orientation.

**Tony Belding** · 02-17-2014, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Its odd that all the cameras that were so criticized for their appearance when they first came out, are so popular now.
The K-01 was called a brick and ugly, now its almost a cult camera, with its funky colours.

They did come in black too. I kind of wish I'd got the black K-01 now. It looks almost Bahaus to me. The yellow one looks like dive gear.

nomadkng · 02-17-2014, 01:00 PM

i wanted a K30 to replace my K20, but did not pull the trigger because they did not offer a battery grip to go with it.
i'm 47 and love the sleek sports sedan look.

I would love the pentax/ricoh ff camera to be a slightly larger version of the k30. talk about making a statement!

lister6520 · 02-17-2014, 01:34 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Tony Belding

...
However... Then I look at the K-50 and say: It's like they took the K-30 and stripped off all the layers of ugly! It looks like a real camera now. (But I'd get the K-50 in some color besides black, because that is kind of bland.)

Rather than 'stripping off the layers of ugly' it seems more to me like they poured some standard issue Canikon blobby-goo over it, though thankfully they did not pour the whole bottle.

magkelly · 02-17-2014, 03:59 PM

When I first saw the crystal red K-30 I was totally mesmerized by it. I still am a bit lured. I know I probably need a K-5 really work-wise it just makes more sense, but that red K-30 still sings a siren song I can't quite tune out. I loved the design on the K-30, think the K-50 is an ugly brick by comparison. I'll probably get me a K-5 for now, but I still think that one of these days I'm still going to end up with a red K-30 because I just plain WANT one. Prices on used ones are falling rapidly. I'll probably cave and get me one used sooner or later and it will probably be crystal red when I do. I'm still obsessed....:P

**Tony Belding** · 02-17-2014, 05:37 PM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by altopiet

How old are you...80?

Get off my lawn, or I'll whack you with my Spotmatic!

02-17-2014, 03:35 AM - 4 Likes	#1
dcpropilot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vermont Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 941	K-30 styling: will it ever return? I absolutely love my K-30 styling. I just find the k-50 too plain vanilla for my liking. I hope Ricoh/Pentax brings back the K-30 styling rather than the generic look at some point.

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02-17-2014, 04:24 AM	#2
Culture Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Vaasa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 818	I completely share your view. I also really like the K-30 styling. It is not vanilla at all. Even compared to other pentax models.

02-17-2014, 05:07 AM	#3
kentishrev Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 180	Originally posted by dcpropilot I absolutely love my K-30 styling. I just find the k-50 too plain vanilla for my liking. I hope Ricoh/Pentax brings back the K-30 styling rather than the generic look at some point. They got the Apple spirit on the K-30. Make it look good....and make it work well. Can't fail! I saw a cut-away of the K-30 once, which proved the top 'horn' has no function other than design. It's still great. Given Ricoh's excellent design brief with the GR, let's hope the continued Pentax/Ricoh approach leads to continued excellence in handling, image and design.

02-17-2014, 05:13 AM	#4
Tony Belding Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hamilton, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 777	I think it's funny to observe how opinions vary so wildly on styling. To me... Well, to me the K-30 looks like a cross between a Transformers toy and a cheap running shoe. Maybe it really appeals to the younger generation who watch those Transformers movies? If I had one, I'd probably get used to it pretty quickly. I got used to the yellow K-01, so I can probably adapt to anything. However... Then I look at the K-50 and say: It's like they took the K-30 and stripped off all the layers of ugly! It looks like a real camera now. (But I'd get the K-50 in some color besides black, because that is kind of bland.)

02-17-2014, 07:01 AM	#5
GibbyTheMole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iowa Photos: Albums Posts: 2,275	Originally posted by Tony Belding Maybe it really appeals to the younger generation who watch those Transformers movies? I'm an old 44 year old codger & I really like the bold and slightly aggressive style of the K-30. I think it's a great looking piece of gear, and it's styling sets it apart from the pack.

02-17-2014, 07:15 AM	#6
altopiet Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Gem of the Karoo, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,307	Originally posted by Tony Belding younger generation How old are you...80?

02-17-2014, 08:28 AM	#7
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Its odd that all the cameras that were so criticized for their appearance when they first came out, are so popular now. The K-01 was called a brick and ugly, now its almost a cult camera, with its funky colours. In Japan they even made a new run (the white/blue) because of the demand. The K-30 was also criticized, that it has odd textures, doesn't look enough like a DSLR and things like that, but now that it was replaced with the classic-looking K-50, the demand for the K-30 is back, especially for its sporty looks

02-17-2014, 08:34 AM - 1 Like	#8
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	Maybe some of us want funky Transformers cameras! And yellow bricks!

02-17-2014, 08:35 AM - 1 Like	#9
StephenHampshire Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Winchester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,523	I'm 52 and have no problem with the styling of the K30, although mine is now in the hands of my 23 year old son! Still, I do find it hard to see the styling of a camera when looking through the viewfinder!

02-17-2014, 09:32 AM	#10
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	IIRC there were several third-party lenses that didn't fit under the flash horn, so I suppose Ricoh took a 'form follows function' approach with the more classic design. Maybe there's a reason so many cameras share these basic dimensions, the way sedans share their basic orientation.

02-17-2014, 12:45 PM	#11
Tony Belding Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hamilton, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 777	Originally posted by Na Horuk Its odd that all the cameras that were so criticized for their appearance when they first came out, are so popular now. The K-01 was called a brick and ugly, now its almost a cult camera, with its funky colours. They did come in black too. I kind of wish I'd got the black K-01 now. It looks almost Bahaus to me. The yellow one looks like dive gear.

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02-17-2014, 01:00 PM	#12
nomadkng Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,448	i wanted a K30 to replace my K20, but did not pull the trigger because they did not offer a battery grip to go with it. i'm 47 and love the sleek sports sedan look. I would love the pentax/ricoh ff camera to be a slightly larger version of the k30. talk about making a statement!

02-17-2014, 01:34 PM - 1 Like	#13
lister6520 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 733	Originally posted by Tony Belding ... However... Then I look at the K-50 and say: It's like they took the K-30 and stripped off all the layers of ugly! It looks like a real camera now. (But I'd get the K-50 in some color besides black, because that is kind of bland.) Rather than 'stripping off the layers of ugly' it seems more to me like they poured some standard issue Canikon blobby-goo over it, though thankfully they did not pour the whole bottle.

02-17-2014, 03:59 PM	#14
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	When I first saw the crystal red K-30 I was totally mesmerized by it. I still am a bit lured. I know I probably need a K-5 really work-wise it just makes more sense, but that red K-30 still sings a siren song I can't quite tune out. I loved the design on the K-30, think the K-50 is an ugly brick by comparison. I'll probably get me a K-5 for now, but I still think that one of these days I'm still going to end up with a red K-30 because I just plain WANT one. Prices on used ones are falling rapidly. I'll probably cave and get me one used sooner or later and it will probably be crystal red when I do. I'm still obsessed....:P

02-17-2014, 05:37 PM - 4 Likes	#15
Tony Belding Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hamilton, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 777	Originally posted by altopiet How old are you...80? Get off my lawn, or I'll whack you with my Spotmatic!