costco.com is going to sell the Pentax K30 kit with 18-55 lens and 8GB SD card for $899 (#11763523). The marketing material states as various colors available. You also get a Pentax WG-1 as bonus! The offer is online only and valid between July 30 and August 19.

[TLcat]

Let me know when you get it, I'm excited .......

[jeffshaddix]

Glad to see Pentax USA finally getting costco in the loop...I am constantly reminded of Pentax's lack of presence in the US when I walk into costco and see crates of D7000's and T4i's.

[crewl1]

Booo - looks like they realized a mistake on the WR lens , now there is a notation that it is not WR:
Costco - Black Pentax K-30 Weatherproof DSLR Camera with 8GB SD Card & Sling Bag
K-30 DSLR What’s Included:

• Pentax K-30 Weather-Sealed DSLR Camera Body
• 18-55mm Lens (standard K-30 kit lens, weather-resistant lens not included)
• Pentax Sling Bag
• 8GB SDHC Memory Card
• Li-Ion Battery
• Battery Charger Kit
• USB Cable
• Strap
• Hotshoe Cover
• Eyecup
• Body Mount Cover
• Finder Cap
• Focusing Screen
• Software CD-ROM
• Bonus Item
  • Pentax WG-1 Waterproof Digital Camera***

[Singinman]

My Costco package will arrive sometime tomorrow. First posting will be to y'all to settle the WR lens question.

[madbrain]

Glad to see Pentax USA finally getting costco in the loop...I am constantly reminded of Pentax's lack of presence in the US when I walk into costco and see crates of D7000's and T4i's.

This is costco.com online only and nothing new. It doesn't appear they will carry Pentax in brick & mortar stores.

[Singinman]

After I got a second order shipped notice today, I realized that costco order was devided. Shortly after figuring that out the first package (WG-1) arrived.

Turn in tomorrow for Second Delivery.

[Singinman]

The K-30 came this morning and so far, I like what I see.

The Costco package.

K-30 w/DA L 18-55mm. This is not the WR lens.

Camera bag- Pentax 15x8x5 inches sling bag w/3 fixed compartments each w/its own outside zipper access. Two of these compartmest have movable partitions.

Kingston 8GB SD card.

Pentax Optio WG-1 pocket camera.

90 day no questions asked return policy. I can take the camera on my next cruise for a real workout before making a final decision.

Problems

Terminal cover. I opened this thing, and it took me 15 minutes to get it closed. I had to mash on it with a blunt metal object to get it to close properly.

SD card. I tried the card in the K-30 first and got a "memory card error" in the LCD screen. I tried to format the card and got the same error. I put it in my K-20 and then in the Optio. It formatted and worked normally in both of these cameras. I will call Costco on this.

So whats

The memory card slot is tight but no problem if you do not chew your nails to the quick.

The camera surface does feel a little different, but cheap no.

Big pluses.

The big view finder. WOW!

It comes easy to my hands.

Controls. Instinctive and easy to navigate.

Noise-what noise. On a good day with the right background, I could boost the ISO on my K20 to 400 and get good pictures. Just goofing off with the K30 I got excellant results at 3200.

[seventysixersfan]

thanks for the nice summary of your initial impressions of the costco deal, singinman!