Pentax K-30 review

For the opportunity Pentax K-30 review Many thanks to Oleg Ilesk.

Pentax K30 review

Pentax K30 review

The Pentax K30 is a good amateur camera. First of all, the camera is interesting simply for its enormous capabilities, such as video shooting, good dynamic range, moisture protection, and a strong waterproof case. If you are looking for an inexpensive good SLR camera, then the Pentax K30 will be an excellent option. To be honest, I was just amazed at the capabilities of the hobbyist Pentax K30. In this review, all sample photos were taken with a lens. SMC Pentax-DA 1: 3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WRthat comes with the camera.

Pentax K-30 sample photo

Pentax K-30 sample photo

The main things to pay attention to in the Pentax K30:

  1. The Pentax K30 camera housing is waterproof. This is a very nice plus in the Pentax gradebook. This not only allows you to shoot in fine rain, but also indicates a good design in general.
  2. Pentax-K30 16.1 MP and CMOS matrix. You can find information about 16.3 and 16.5 megapixels. 16.3 is effective pixels and 16.5 is total pixels on camera. But the camera itself produces images of 4928 by 3264 pixels, which is equal to 16.1 MP. This is a good indicator, however, megapixels are not always so important, you can see for yourself in the section Battle of Megapixels. It is very important that the Pentax K30 uses a matrix from a professional Pentax K-5.

    Pentax K-30 sample photo

    Pentax K-30 sample photo

  3. Pentax K30 has an ISO range of 100 to 12,800 and can expand its range to 25,600... Believe me, even 12,800 is just an excellent figure for a crop APS-C camera. My full frame Nikon D700 and it has an ISO range from 200 to 6400. The noise level at high ISO is very similar, in my opinion, to the noise level of the camera Nikon D5100.
  4. The Pentax K30 has a marvelous three-inch, 920,000-dot LCD display. View photos and poke around the menu is very convenient.

    Pentax K-30 sample photo

    Pentax K-30 sample photo

  5. Good viewfinder with 100% coated frame and an increase of 0.92X. This is really a very good indicator. 100% coverage means that everything that is visible in the optical viewfinder will be in the picture. This indicator is very important for me.
  6. Pentax K-30 uses 11-point focus systemmoreover, 9 focus points are cruciform. The speed and accuracy of focusing very much depends on the lens and shooting conditions. The camera can set shooting priorities for modes and AF-S, AF-C. For example, you can set burst priority or focus priority. This is very important and useful, given that the camera has fast continuous shooting.

    Pentax K-30 sample photo

    Pentax K-30 sample photo

  7. Great frame buffer: Pentax K-30 can buffer up to 8 frames in RAW format and up to 30 in jpeg format. Frame buffer – this is one of the most important things when shooting a series. RAW files have a DNG (Digital NeGative) extension and weigh from 10 to 25 MB. The camera uses memory cards SD, SDHC, SDXC. I used the camera with a 32GB SDHC class 10 card without any problems. The camera only encodes 12bit RAW file.
  8. The shooting speed is as much as 6 frames per second. This is just awesome speed for an amateur camera. Only advanced amateur and professional cameras can boast of such fast burst shooting.

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

  9. The Pentax K-30's battery is pretty weak, withstands up to about 500 shots. The number of shots that the camera can take depends very much on the shooting conditions, lens, and method of working with the camera. But Pentax K-30 can use ordinary AA batteries
  10. The Pentax K-30 camera has a very well thought out live view. The mode has the function of highlighting the contours of objects when focusing, which helps to sight through the camera display without any problems.

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

  11. Of course, the Pentax K-30 can shoot 1080p HD video up to 30 fps in MOV format. You can shoot in 720p at a speed of 60 fps. Also, basic settings for video are available. When shooting video, auto focus works.
  12. The camera menu is quite large, divided into logical sections. The menu is easy to use. In the menu you can find a huge number of useful settings.

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

  13. Pentax K-30 works great with manual optics, the camera measures exposure and confirms focus with manual lenses. You can safely use Soviet lenses and any other old high-quality manual focus optics.
  14. Pentax K-30 has built-in image stabilizer. This means that with any lens, the camera will perform the function of suppressing hand shake. This is a very useful feature, with the stabilizer you can take off at relatively slow shutter speeds.

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

  15. An interesting fact is that the Pentax K-30 supports alignment of optics. This means that if some lens has a back or front focus, then the camera can be adjusted to compensate for the lack of a lens.
  16. Pentax K-30 uses shutter speed from 30s to 1 \ 6000. Of course, 1 \ 6000 is not standard excerpt 1 \ 8000 on professional cameras, but still very good.

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

    Pentax K 30 sample photo

  17. The camera supports interval shooting. There are GPS connectors on the camera body, etc.
  18. Of course, the Pentax K-30 is equipped with a screwdriver - a built-in focus motor, which allows the camera to be used with a wide range of older non-motorized autofocus lenses.
Pentax K-30 sample photo

Pentax K-30 sample photo

Personal experience

The direct competitor of Pentax K-30 is Nikon D5100. I must admit that the Pentax K-30 is much better Nikon D5100 in management and feature set. I really liked the Pentax K-30 features such as:

  • Ability to delete only RAW or JPEG images if shooting in RAW + JPEG
  • Setting up several function keys to the desired functions
  • Virtual horizonwhich has a vertical and horizontal tilt scale
  • bar chart in live view and when shooting video
  • A simple video editor
  • Auto ISO, which takes into account lens parameters and adjusts shutter speed
  • automatic distortion correction
  • Automatic chromatic aberration correction
  • HDR function for creating unusual shots with a large dynamic range
  • Almost every function has a lot of additional settings, which allows you to very well and accurately configure the camera for any shooting conditions
  • Pentax K-30 supports remote control
  • Pentax K-30 has the classic noise reduction functions at slow shutter speeds and high ISO, you can adjust the noise reduction
  • Pentax K-30 has an unusual green backlight auto focus
  • Pentax K-30 is available in several body colors.
  • Metal-based polycarbonate housing, which makes the camera very durable
  • Pentax K-30 can mask dead pixels, which over time becomes very relevant
  • The camera has an excellent dust removal system. Matrix cleaning function it is configured to turn the camera on or off, and cleaning can also be performed forcibly. When cleaning occurs, something feels in the hands that the camera is shaking
  • In the menu, you can adjust the font size, the color of the navigation elements (adjust to the color of the case), you can configure (calibrate) the display
  • There is even a wonderful autofocus trap function
Pentax K 30 sample photo

Pentax K 30 sample photo

Pentax K-30 uses a matrix that Sony produces, the same matrix is ​​available in cameras

The only thing that remains a mystery to me is how to turn off the display when the camera is on. When you turn on the camera, with the shutter button not pressed halfway, the display with shooting information always lights up. A minor drawback of the camera is the delay at startup and the fact that the camera does not show the picture until it is written to the memory card. Also, there is no booster for the Pentax K 30.

Pentax K-30 sample photo

Pentax K-30 sample photo

Prices for modern Pentax cameras in popular stores can look at this link.

In comments Can I ask you a question on the topic and you will answer, and you can also express your opinion or describe your experience. Many little things for a photo can be found on AliExpress.


Conclusions

Pentax K-30 - great camera... Most likely, Pentax K-30 - one of the best amateur crop cameras for 2012. I recommend.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 225, on the topic: Pentax K-30 review

  • Dmitriy

    Please tell me if this camera has the ability to preview the depth of field

  • Eugene

    hello ... for two years now I have been visiting your site ... I think that you have one of the most intelligent reviews of photographic equipment ... for two years I have been rummaging through the Internet, trying to find a suitable brand and model for myself ... 25 years ago, at the turn of the 80-90s, I worked in the “district” "5 years ... I have a photo-professional education ... you wrote that the PENTAX K30 has autofocus adjustment ... I did not find it in any of a dozen reviews, except yours ... this function is important for me ... I live in isolation from good services ... I liked the camera ... even the colors - there is something in this ...

  • Eugene

    thanks ... found ... sorry to bother you ... I was just inattentive ... in any case, your review guided me to further searches ... at first this camera did not interest me, I thought, again, something functionally "cropped" ... now I think that I would enough ... everything is there ... even work with AA-batteries ... and for the price the most ...

    • anonym

      To use the camera with batteries, you must additionally purchase a removable container for AA batteries. The camera is not equipped with it.

  • Victor

    Is it possible to see the live histogram on the monitor and in the viewfinder and control it when the apparatus is aimed at the object.
    Thank you.

  • Igor

    Hello! Thank you for your reviews, it is accessible and informative. I have this question - After the D5100 was stolen from me, the question arose about buying a new camera and here I was interested in K-30 as an option, I still have glasses from Nikon - can I do I use them on K-30?

    • Egor

      I use this device for 4 months.
      Until I found adapters from Nikon to Petax.
      But from Pentax to Nikon - full.

    • Artem

      Nikon lenses can be installed without an adapter, but they do not snap to the end, theoretically they can fall off. I shot a video for about an hour on a manual lens with a Nikon mount, nothing fell off.

  • anonym

    I apologize for the importunity, I forgot to write. Which camera would you prefer the K-30 or D-90? The D-90 is embarrassed by the lack of autofocus in the video.

  • Hleb

    hello, I bought a pentax k-30 the other day, everything is fine, I bought it in white, there’s only one point when you do not zealously shake the camera inside the case, there’s something to knock, stagger, such mechanical noise comes from the inside, not strong but comes out, please tell me What can it be connected with and seriously?

    • anonym

      I ask the answer as soon as possible if this is a problem then I can still return it, 10 days are left ..

    • pectoral

      It's okay. It's a stabilization system.

    • anonym

      matrix shift

    • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

      this is in all cameras with stabilization in the matrix and with dust removal by vibration, this is normal

  • Vladimir

    Tell me with which optics is better to take the K-30? There is K30 + 18-135WR ($ 1030) or a kit K30 + 18-55WR + 50-200WR ($ 921).

  • Novel

    The author, respectfully write, the matrix in the Fuji X-Pro1 and the matrix in the K-30 - at the same time.
    Sony is up to the Fuji matrix of a little idea, you have a sensor of visions for the X-Trans CMOS technology, who can easily know the information in Google in Google.

    • Sergei

      the author is absolutely right. the matrix on Fujah series X is made by Sony, but the filter costs X-Trans from Fuja.

  • Ivan

    What is the difference between K-30 and K-50 ???

    • Nicholas

      The K-50 is a newer version of the K-30, the bugs were removed (for example, a visor), and the software was updated.

  • Alexey

    Tell me, does the Pentax K-30 or K-5 have fast flash sync?

  • ANNA

    Can you please tell me I bought a lens smc pentax M-50 F2.0 A TO WORK ON THE K-30 does not want to stand on the K mount as a native one but does not work in one of the modes, how can this be even in the M mode does not work all the time flashes F– does not take off and everything, well, how can this be here? I look this lens is put on both K-10 and K-5, what's wrong with K-30, what's the catch. maybe I think where some contacts are closing please tell me

    • Ilya

      This lens is fully manual, the camera does not know the meaning of the duplex since there is no electronics in the lens.
      To start taking pictures on it, you need to find the item “Aperture ring” in the menu and put it on “allow”. I advise you to turn on the autofocus trap.
      The basic mechanics for taking photos on a manual lens in manual mode (M) are as follows:
      1) set the desired ISO value
      2) we aim at the subject in the MF mode (manual focus) or in the AF mode (automatic), but when AF is released, it will only be released if the subject is in focus at the center point.
      3) set the aperture value with your hands on the Lens
      4) press the green button
      5) do the descent
      P.S. It seems complicated, but in fact it even has a little charm, as in the good old days.
      PPP Green button automatically sets the shutter speed in accordance with the aperture. on the lens and the ISO value. you can simply set the shutter speed with pens
      P.P.P.S. in any other mode except (M) the aperture of the lens will not be pushed, i.e. there will be a constantly open hole), but in general, of course, you need to read the instructions

  • Novel

    ANNA, in the camera menu (somewhere in the last items on the last tab) find the “Aperture ring” item and set its value to “Allow”. This will allow you to shoot when the aperture value is not known to the camera. In this case, the value “F–” on the screen should stop flashing.
    In the “M” mode, you can meter the exposure by pressing the green button - the camera will close the aperture on old lenses to the value set on the aperture ring.
    In “A” mode the camera will also be able to shoot, but the aperture will remain fully open on lenses of the pentax-K and pentax-M series.
    Before shooting in M ​​mode, it's worth checking the ISO value. In the K-30 (unlike its predecessors), the “ISO Auto” option was made available in the “M” mode - this puts the camera in the TAv mode (page 100 of the manual), that is, the camera will select the appropriate ISO itself. But on old lenses (without aperture contacts), the camera will not cover the aperture :(

    • Egor

      As a one-time solution to the problem of covering the diaphragm on contactless lenses, it is possible to seal the camera contacts on the bayonet with the thinnest tape or electrical tape (or the reciprocal part of the lens at the point of contact with the camera contacts). But there is a chance of a lens sticking in the lens mount.

      • Taras

        And there is also the likelihood that after removing the adhesive tape on the contacts there will remain an acrylic adhesive tape of the adhesive tape, which can only be removed with a solvent

  • Eugene

    Please help me to choose a faster lens for the pentax k-30 (comparison with the pentax DA 18-55 WR). I looked at several options, but I can not make a choice between them:
    1. Sigma 17-70mm f / 2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM
    2.SIGMA 24-70 mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO
    3. Tamron AF SP 28-75 F / 2,8 Di XR LD Asp. (IF) Macro

    • anonym

      1. Sigma 17-70mm f / 2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM

    • Hleb

      take a tamron; the quality of a tamron has always been higher than sigma; sigma just lasts only because of its autofocus; not bad what a tamron cannot boast of, but a tamron gives an incredible picture, a sigma is a little porous compared sigma 17-70 and tamron 17-50

  • anonym

    1. Sigma 17-70mm f / 2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM

  • Valery

    Good day. Tell me, how does the 30-ka cope with high-aperture lenses on the open in low light conditions? Thank you in advance…

    • Andrei

      The carcass will cope with any lens, but one, each lens gives its own picture, so do not be afraid to experiment (if finances allow)

  • Egor

    Arkady, good evening.
    When installing manual optics, the camera suggests choosing the focal length of the lens.
    The question is, how to choose it more correctly - based on the focus of the lens or on the basis of the focus of the lens multiplied by the crop?

  • Alexey Dominicana.

    Good time! circumstances have developed so that I have to use the K-30, in the rainy Dominican Republic (now the rainy season), also in the bright sun, on the water (glare surface), in caves, with weak light, etc., etc. I not a pro, unlike the majority, whose opinions I read. But! in the “face dirt”, you don’t want to fall by pressing the button “on the machine”, in the “green zone”. After reading the Internet, I realized that even your terminology is, for me, a “dark forest.” I understood the main thing, it is “ISO” that is important, and exposure, “white balance” (of course, there is a lot more that I don’t know), I will be very grateful if “ on your fingers ”, explain, some minimum settings for filming in the above conditions. (K-30, new) ... And another question: how many frames will the new set of AA AA batteries take? Are the optics afraid of moisture (it is clear that I will not dive with the apparatus, but a tropical downpour is a natural "shower". Thanks in advance for any advice.

  • Dmitriy

    Will the ZENIT-E lens (Helios 30, 44mm) be suitable for the Pentax K-58, and if it does, will it be better than the standard 18-55 mm for portraits?

    • anonym

      Should fit with an adapter. But the quality of helios is unstable, in my case at 44-2 there is weak contrast and sharpness. It's ok for video.

    • Michael

      Dmitry will go and how he will go! You won't want any other portrait photographer and check out Soviet optics right away! I was just amazed when I put Helios 44 on my 30k. At Zenith, this Helios did not impress, to put it mildly, but when using it on the Pentax, I started to respect him. Try it - see for yourself.

  • Hleb

    Hello, I’m looking for a replacement for a whale lens, since I have a Helius 44-2 that can do fine, my pentax bootto would be created for him) Well, I want something with good auto focus, well, in general, that would be good modern, fly between sigma 24- 70 28 and tokina 28-70 2.8 Pro, but in the near future I chose all the same tokina but now I can’t figure it out at all, maybe you can advise something from optics something good in the same price category, just a little thing, you don’t want to make a mistake)

    • Andrei

      Gleb, the question is, how is Helius 44-2 to the user: installed on a pentax with an adapter (with or without a chip)? And are there any problems with focusing on infinity? In my case, Helios-44-3 2/58, Industar-50-2 and Pentax K-30

      • Hleb

        without a chip, an adapter without a chip, but with infinity there is such a piece of iron with a spring, it presses on the knob inside the camera and thereby confirms infinity, but I disassembled the lens and legalized it in order to achieve infinity, I worked fine) but I sold my k-30 and switched to nikon d7000, it is not possible to find decent optics on pentax. it is overpriced to eerie ... but in fact ...

  • Vyacheslav

    Hello, I recently bought a Pentax k-50. I want to learn how to work with manual optics. Tell me, what are the most suitable manual optics options for Pentax for 50 mm and for 135 mm with the least loss of functionality? I really liked your review of the Pancolar 1,8 / 50 Carl Zeiss Jena DDR lens, but how will Pentax handle it?

    • Hleb

      In my opinion, every person who uses the manual should have a helius!
      this is an incomparable optics, not which panacolars will not surpass them)
      but in general I advise vivitar very high-quality optics and a picture similar to helios with a zest) and Carl Zeiss is a rare and often overpriced optics. good luck)

      • Sergei

        No need to learn Russian, just reproduce the inscription on the lens. I don't even know what to do with raisins. In general, HeliOS is the cheapest lenses of all times and peoples, so draw conclusions accordingly. If you want a normal portrait lens - take something with a focal 135. Not Soviet and not GDRvskoe. To advise Soviet and Vivitar's is the same as advising to dine in Mac.

  • Alexander

    Arkady, I have a question for you: choosing a camera, Pentax K-30 or Nikon D-5200? Which of these cameras is preferable if you do not take into account the all-weather factor?

    • Michael

      Each camera has its own strengths. Pentax - the best handling in comparison with Nikon, security, including a whale lens, a stabilized matrix, the ability to use Soviet optics, which now costs a penny, and the quality is amazingly simple, the ability to use AA elements when buying a special cassette, the ability to customize everything and everything, the ability to save the last frame taken in a jeep in RAW. Nikon is, first of all, excellent native optics, the quality of which you begin to appreciate when the same Pentax with a whale falls into your hands (for Pentax, the 18-55 lens begins to work more or less approximately in quality with the Nikon 18-55, only starting from aperture 8). It's great focusing, it's a great picture (although the Pentax has a great picture too). In general, these are serious tools in capable hands. For beginners Nikon is preferable in my opinion. It is easier for a beginner to get excellent results with it.

    • Michael

      Yes, Alexander, I forgot to add - Nikon's advantage is video filming, unlike Pentax K30 - video there is a huge disadvantage. This is from personal experience already.

  • Hleb

    Alexander, in my opinion the pentax will be better, it’s better and believe my experience it’s easy to work with it and the photos turn out to be decent, if you choose one pentax, the main minus of the optics, I sold my pentax only because the optics are not decent and even worth the price overestimated, but what about the 5xxx line, as for me it’s not a good lazy one there are these screens, break the bastards, and in the end the pentax is QUALITY!

  • Oleg

    You say that autofocus works when shooting movies. Have you tried shooting a video yourself? Even at the office. The site answered me that focus on manual focus. No autofocus in video mode. Always have to adjust. So this camera is not suitable for video. I use it myself, I know. And the optics are different, the result is the same.

    • Hleb

      Rave. I can even throw off the video.

      • Oleg

        When you press the shutter button, it certainly fires, but then it is fixed and does not follow the object. That's the problem.

        • Hleb

          maybe this is purely your problem, I don’t have one, I’m shooting a video perfectly. autofocus also works during shooting. Now in the hands of shooting, I focus on the cup or on the screen.

  • Zhenya

    Good afternoon, the Pentax K-30 is interested in the following question:
    Good afternoon forum users, the following question interests:
    Will the Yongnuo Speedlite YN-560 II and Pentax K-30 external flash sync work?
    Thank you.

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