[Evie]

My K-30 started showing the beginnings of standard for them Aperture Disease. So far it is working, but I am already looking for next camera.
I am usually taking photos: travel, astro, macro. No (or almost no) portraits, limited of cities and similar places. However, sometimes I get to take photos in darker places (like caves).
So, my wishes/requirements: moving LCD, and moving in quite extreme angles; good work with ISO, but not "eating" stars, preferably built-in flash, as I already have OGPS-1 unit and sometimes it is useful to have flash in travels (I use it too rarely to buy a separate unit).
At the moment my choices are K-S2, K-70, KP or wait for next model release. K-S2 supports lower temp than other two models, KP does not have swivel screen (at least from what I read) and is 400$ more expensive - but supports higher ISO; K-70 - does it have the same aperture issue as K-30?

Any recommendations and ideas are welcome, maybe I missed something?

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Last edited by Evie; 06-15-2017 at 02:58 PM. Reason: fixing KS-2 to K-S2

[jimr-pdx]

There was a white K-s2 in the Marketplace yesterday, wish I could race you to it! I'm a big fan of the short-lived 20Mpx chip in the K-s series.

[Des]

I went from a K-30 to a K-S2 (to accompany my K-3). It has the features you want, including flippy screen and built-in flash, and the 20mp sensor is very good. It's also lightweight and compact and uses the same batteries as the K-30. The flippy screen is great for low to the ground shots.

But I see from your profile that you have a Bigma. I prefer to use my K-3 with my longer/heavier lenses, because it balances better and focuses much better. I also like the built-in flash on the K-3 because (unlike those on the K-30 or K-S2) it works very well with the Rogue Safari flash extender. I think the K-70 flash is similar to that on the K-S2. The K-P flash is only GN6, about half the output of the others.

There have been very few reports of aperture problems with the K-S2 or K-70 AFAIK.

The K-70 and K-S2 have a flippy screen. The K-P has a tilting screen. What the next flagship model will have is anyone's guess, but it will surely have one or the other.

Personally I think that although the K-P is quite advanced, it is still rather high-priced, and the K-S2 or K-70 are better value for money. Or a second hand (or new old stock) K-3, which is the best value of all IMO, provided you can live without an articulating screen.

For a more detailed feature comparison of the three models you mention, see here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-cameras-compared/?c1=Pentax+KP&c2...c3=Pentax+K-S2

There is endless discussion on these forums about differences in image quality between these models, but honestly I think a lot of it is hair-splitting.

[Adam]

My K-30 started showing the beginnings of standard for them Aperture Disease. So far it is working, but I am already looking for next camera.
I am usually taking photos: travel, astro, macro. No (or almost no) portraits, limited of cities and similar places. However, sometimes I get to take photos in darker places (like caves).
So, my wishes/requirements: moving LCD, and moving in quite extreme angles; good work with ISO, but not "eating" stars, preferably built-in flash, as I already have OGPS-1 unit and sometimes it is useful to have flash in travels (I use it too rarely to buy a separate unit).
At the moment my choices are K-S2, K-70, KP or wait for next model release. K-S2 supports lower temp than other two models, KP does not have swivel screen (at least from what I read) and is 400$ more expensive - but supports higher ISO; K-70 - does it have the same aperture issue as K-30?

Any recommendations and ideas are welcome, maybe I missed something?

The K-70 is a pretty big upgrade over the K-S2. AFAIK its shutter is not affected. While the KP has higher ISOs, the sensor and processing is the same as in the K-70, so you can expect very comparable image quality. The KP is the way to go if you want the better build quality.

Adam
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[Tako Kichi]

I switched from the K-30 to the K-70 back in December of last year and don't regret it for one second. The swivel screen is a big bonus for when you need it but to be honest when I use my camera the screen is usually turned inwards as I tend to get my info via the view-finder while composing the shot. As I am left-eye dominant it helps to prevent nose smudges on the screen too! I also prefer the grip and button layout on the K-70 and now use back-button focusing exclusively as the focus button is so easy to reach compared to the K-30.

Regarding the aperture block issue, as far as I am aware the K-70 does not have the failure problem of the K-30/K-50 series cameras (possibly a different part/system in use).

One additional bonus if you are into long lenses is the availability of the new 55-300 PZM lens on the newer bodies. I had the old, non-WR, version (now passed on to my daughter for use on her K-50) for a couple of years and recently acquired one of the new PZM versions and the difference is staggering, much sharper images and lightning fast focusing at any distance.

Hope that helps.

[Evie]

Thank you, looks like K-70 sounds better and better. So far will wait a bit, as I had another big purchase recently and cannot buy at the moment, but will read more about it.

[patrick9]

I went from my K30 to the KS2. It took a long while to get comfortable with the feel after theK30 feeling so natural Matter of fact I almost got rid of it. I decided to give it some more time. It would now be a toss up between the two bodies if the K30 had not fallen off the tripod . I love the articulating screen. My knees have been giving me trouble and with the KS2's screen I can go live view and lower or raise the camera down to the height I need and not have to climb or get down on my poor knees. With the K30 I was always having tweak the colors to get them where they needed to be. The KS2's colors have not been adjusted at all since I purchased it..

Which ever camera you decide on, be willing to give the feel in hand a chance to be gotten used to

[Evie]

I went from my K30 to the KS2. It took a long while to get comfortable with the feel after theK30 feeling so natural Matter of fact I almost got rid of it. I decided to give it some more time. It would now be a toss up between the two bodies if the K30 had not fallen off the tripod . I love the articulating screen. My knees have been giving me trouble and with the KS2's screen I can go live view and lower or raise the camera down to the height I need and not have to climb or get down on my poor knees. With the K30 I was always having tweak the colors to get them where they needed to be. The KS2's colors have not been adjusted at all since I purchased it..

Which ever camera you decide on, be willing to give the feel in hand a chance to be gotten used to

Thank you. At the moment I am using sticky mirror to view through livescreen in angle (even if I am not old, I have no wish to try and lay on my stomach in dust, when I have to return to work in half an hour, and to do that in a dress no less...), so articulating screen would be lovely.

I have bought all my and moms cameras via internet,without touching them, and so far I am quite friendly with all I used more. I miss the handshake button from K-200D, but it is not a big problem. So I believe I will have no problem with the one I will chose as well, especially if it will be K-70 (anyway, a new K70 is only around 100USD more expensive than K-S2, this is also gives more reasons to look into it).

[Des]

I have bought all my and moms cameras via internet,without touching them, and so far I am quite friendly with all I used more. I miss the handshake button from K-200D, but it is not a big problem. So I believe I will have no problem with the one I will chose as well, especially if it will be K-70 (anyway, a new K70 is only around 100USD more expensive than K-S2, this is also gives more reasons to look into it).

This will point you further in that direction: Comparison: Pentax K-70 vs Pentax K-S2 - Which one to get

The K-S2 has a different feel to the K-30. In particular the grip is noticeably smaller. I much preferred the grip on the K-30, but my partner likes the K-S2 as it fits her hand better. I suspect the K-70 will be more familiar for you.

[caliscouser]

Given your requirements K-70 checks all the boxes.

[Evie]

Given your requirements K-70 checks all the boxes.

Most of the boxes, as KP has way higher ISO and (suspectedly) better focusing. Why not try waiting for new model?

I am just trying to look from all sides

[Des]

Why not try waiting for new model?

If you mean the next flagship model (replacing the K-3ii), it will be a lot more expensive than the K-70 or the K-P. Maybe halfway between the current price of the K-P and the K-1. But then again, it should have the solidity and features of the K-3 series, all the advances in the K-P, trickle-down features from the K-1, and then some. It will be a different class of camera from the K-30/K-S2/K-70.

[caliscouser]

K-70 and KP sensor performance are very very close by all accounts. The higher maximum ISO on the KP is a bit of a red herring as it is not practically usable.

KP will have better focusing for sure. But as you didn't mention sports or wildlife shooting then K-70 may be enough of a bump in the AF department. It is SAFOX 10 vs 9 in the K-30. Not cutting edge or a big bump admittedly, but workmanlike AF performance.

Bang for buck wise, K-70 seems like the best proposition. But if you have more budget then no doubt the KP is very attractive (as will be the K-3iii). I'd love to have a KP myself

[patrick9]

The K-S2 has a different feel to the K-30. In particular the grip is noticeably smaller. I much preferred the grip on the K-30, but my partner likes the K-S2 as it fits her hand better. I suspect the K-70 will be more familiar for you.

I considered the K-70 I got the K-S2 when I ran across a really good deal. In the pictures the 2 cameras appear to look like they share the same grip. I wonder if they do. That was what I missed when I moved to the K-S2 Do you know if the grip is the same ?
The K-30felt like it was a part of my hand. The K-S2 felt like was about to drop it all the time. Till I took the neck strap off and put on a Joby wrist strap. Now it feels more secure. But if the K-70 was more like the K-30 I would be tempted to trade up to it. I am very happy with everything else about the K-S2 and since the strap change I have gotten used to the feel of it in my hand.

[Des]

I considered the K-70 I got the K-S2 when I ran across a really good deal. In the pictures the 2 cameras appear to look like they share the same grip. I wonder if they do. That was what I missed when I moved to the K-S2 Do you know if the grip is the same ?

I think the grip on the K-70 is a little bigger, but I can't say from personal experience. I'm going on user reports that it is more like the K-30 than like the K-S2.

I've also got more used to the K-S2 and the small size of the camera is handy. For my part, even if the grip on the K-70 is better, I'm not sure that there is enough difference in the feature set to make it worth upgrading. But of course that would depend on how much an upgrade would cost. I got the K-S2 at a great price on sale late last year, and there haven't been similar deals on the K-70 in Australia. YMMV.

Personally I find the K-3 to be the most comfortable camera to hold and use of any that I have had.