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Also, if you haven't seen my photos - go look at ForbinVisual or search for my videos on YouTube under "LaurenOE".

My Search for Permanence - Part 1 - YouTube Part 1
My Search for Permanence - Part 2 - YouTube Part 2
My Search for Permanence - Part 3 - YouTube Part 3
My Search for Permanence - Part 4 - YouTube Part 4

No Problem. When it comes to the reports of the K5 autofocus, I've never worried about it. Basically the two types of autofocus (PD and CD) work fine in most cases with the K5. I'm never in a situation where I tax the K5 auto focus system. If I am, I usually have an off camera or on camera flash that has a SB (Spot Beam) function, and I go from there. The reports of bad AF performance on the K5 are highly overblown. If the pixel peepers say the K30 is better, so be it.

Oh, I understand your wanting to own all of them. A few years ago, I would have been right there myself. But a combination of too many enthusiasms combined with a stagnant economy mean I have to be a bit more careful with my purchases these days. I'll ask one one final question: Is the auto-focus of the K-30 faster or more reliable than the K-5's? I'll ask that for both good light and low light. Thanks for your comments, Lauren. They're more helpful than you realize.

Biro

Since Photokina is coming up in a few and we are about to get the K3 with 24mp and improvements over the K5 and K30, I might wait a little longer. When all is done, I am a Pentaxian and will probably own ALL of them, so I'm not much help.

LOL. I'm not the Lauren of WFTV - I wish eh? Your question is a good one. I LOVE shooting on two K5s as they are identical and I got one in trade for a Nikon D7000. I will always have two bodies from now on! Now, on to the K30. If the K30 had a grip or Mic port option, it would be a tough choice as the technical improvements in the video over the K5 are pretty sweet. The k30 can be had for around $750 so that is an amazing deal for a camera like the K30. The K30 is NOT a plasticky feeling camera, and feels great! Personally I like the K5 with a grip better, but it's a tough choice. So, bottom line? A K5 with a grip works better all around especially since I do video with an external mic and HDMI out on an external monitor. The K30 however, is so *close* that if my K5s were to go away tomorrow, I would replace them with K30s instead of K5s.

Hi Lauren. You mentioned in one of your recent posts that you have two K-5's and a K-30. I also have a K-5 and my K200D may be about to be gifted to my niece. I am now trying to decide whether I should pick up a K-30 as a second Pentax body, buy another K-5 or wait to see what Pentax shows us at Photokina. I'd probably hold off any purchase until after the show when prices on existing camera bodies are likely to drop.

But my question for you is... since that you own both cameras, would you advise me to go for a K-30 or K-5? I like the idea of the K-30's auto-focus improvements. Are they enough to make a solid difference? Thanks for your time.

Biro

P.S. While I'm a New Jersey native, I lived in Orlando for a long time (1980's and part of the 90's). I still have family in Central Florida. I knew a Lauren when I worked at WFTV, Channel 9, the local ABC affiliate. You're not her, are you?