The Pentax K-30 is the latest addition in the company's DSLR range. With stiff competition in the mid-range DSLR market, does it do enough to stand out from the crowd? We find out in our Pentax K-30 review.

Product Overview

Overall rating:

88%

Pentax K-30

Overall score:88%
Value:85%
Performance:85%
Features:90%
Image Quality:90%
Design:90%

Pros:

  • Weather Sealing, build quality, handling, image quality

Cons:

  • Speed of focusing in Live View, small battery, fixed screen, lack of continuous AF for HD video

Product:

Pentax K-30 Review

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:

£599.00

Verdict

Pentax K30 Review – Verdict

For a mid-price DSLR, the K30 certainly offers a lot. The sensor has been adopted from previous models, but this is a wise move by Pentax as the 16.3Mp CMOS chip certainly delivers impressive results.

The AF system is starting to show its age a little. Though it’s fast at locking onto subjects when you’re composing through the viewfinder, the contrast detect system proved to be a bit sluggish in Live View mode. You do end up having to wait a few seconds at times before it acquires correct focus and this is particularly irritating when we know there are much faster contrast detect AF systems currently being offered by other manufacturers. Add to this the lack of continuous focusing in video mode and there are areas for improvement.

Where the K30 really excels is in its build and handling. The rugged design is backed up by a multitude of weather seals to keep it protected. Offering such a high-end feature within a mid-price model is very commendable. We adore the feel of the K30 in the hand too. It feels solid and should survive a knock here and there. 

Add to this the 6fps burst rate and K30 is a very well equipped DSLR. It does stand out in the mid-range market and though it’s currently expensive we expect its price to fall over coming months. For anyone looking to advance from a compact, the K30 makes a sensible choice. Best of all it will produce great images and give you all the DSLR control you need to progress your ability to the next level.

Details

ISO:100-12800 (expandable to 25,600)
Video:1920x1080 (30,25,24fps) 1280x720 (60,50,30,25,24fps)
Memory Card:SD, SDHC, SDXC
Built-in Flash:Yes
Lens Mount:Pentax KAF2 bayonet mount
White Balance:Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W: Cool White, L: Warm White), Tungsten, Flash, CTE, Manual, Color.
Cable Release:Yes
Exposure Comp:± 5EV (1/2EV step or 1/3EV can be selected)
Compression:4 quality level of JPEG (★ good, ★★ better ★★★ best ★★★★ Premium
Viewfinder Type:Optical
PC Socket:No
Field of View:100% coverage
LCD:3inch, 921k dot
Output Size:4928x3264 pixels
AF Points:11 (9 cross type)
White Balance Bracket:Adjustable ±7 steps on A-B axis or G-M axis
Focal Length Mag:1.5x
Max Flash Sync:1/180sec
Sensor:16.3Mp CMOS sensor with primary color filter
Metering System:TTL open aperture, 77 segmented metering, center-weighted and spot metering
Dust Reduction:Yes
DoF Prview:No
Built-in Image Stabilisation:Yes, Sensor-shift
Exposure Modes:P, S, A, M & bulb plus 19 scene modes
Movie Mode:1920x1080 (30,25,24fps) 1280x720 (60,50,30,25,24fps)
Live Mode:Yes
Connectivity:USB2.0 (high-speed compatible) / AV output terminal, USB MSC/PTP
Weight:650g
Power:Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery D-LI 109
File Format:RAW (.DNG) JPEG
Dimensions:96.5mmx128.5mmx71.5mm
Shutter Speeds:1 / 6000sec. ~ 30sec, bulb
Focusing Modes:AF.A (auto), AF.S (single), AF.C (continuous), Manual
Drive Mode:6fps
  1. 1. Pentax K30 Review - Features
  2. 2. Design
  3. 3. Performance
  4. 4. Image Quality
  5. 5. Value
  6. 6. Verdict
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