Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30
Entry-level DSLR Entry-level DSLR
May, 2012

Summary Pentax K-30

Prices Price
Body only $488 - $690 With 18-55mm lens $557 - $780
all K-30 prices
Score Snapsort rank
Within its price range #1 of 4 Among similar cameras #2 of 15
details details
Specifications Key specs
Sensor size Help APS-C 23.7x15.7mm Screen resolution Help 921k dots
Megapixels Help 16.1 MP Movie format Help 1080p @ 30fps
Screen size Help 3.0" Light sensitivity Help 12,800 ISO
see all specifications
Lenses Lenses
Browse all Pentax K-30 lenses at LensHero
Pentax K-30Pentax K-30

Videos

PENTAX K-30 Product Tour

Pentax K-30 Hands-On Field Tes...

Pentax K-30 Sand & Water Test
PENTAX K-30 Product Tour
  • Review
 Pentax K-30 Hands-On Field Test
  • Review
  • Pro
  • Preview
  • Image quality
 Pentax K-30 Sand & Water Test
  • Review
  • Weather sealed

Browse all Pentax K-30 videos

Pros

The Pentax K-30 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Low light performance Low noise at high ISO Help
1,129 ISO
Supports 24p 24p movies Help
For that film look
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Sensor size Slightly larger than average sensor Help
APS-C 23.7x15.7mm
Viewfinder Doesn't use battery, see more detail Help
Pentaprism
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
9
Thickness Thin Help
2.8"
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
$488.19
Overall image quality Great overall image quality Help
79.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
23.7 bits
Image stabilization Image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Shutter lag Short shutter lag Help
162 ms shutter lag
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Size Quite small Help
Prosumer size 130x97x71 mm
Fastest shutter speed Fast shutter speed Help
1/6000 of a second

Cons

The Pentax K-30 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available Help
90 lenses
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
3D Doesn't take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Popularity Not so popular Help
Among snapsort users
True resolution Lower true resolution Help
16.1 MP
Screen flips out Fixed screen Help
Less flexible
Battery life Shorter battery life Help
410 shots
Weight Heavy Help
650 g

dxomark

DXOMark

Appearance

front photo of the Pentax K-30back photo of the Pentax K-30angle photo of the Pentax K-30

Discussion What do you think about the Pentax K-30?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of this camera here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 9 comments

I can see that (6:42 AM, December 31, 2012)
no one has this available for $169.99
 
Jim (9:53 PM, December 17, 2012)
Where is this camera available for $169.95? I see that stat with this description and in every comparison to other cameras, and it has stayed like that for months. Does it have an effect on the "100" rating and the snapsort recommendations? Makes me wonder if the rest of the comparison points are accurate.
 
Avatar for Acolz Acolz (2:56 PM, September 30, 2012)
I think the DR is not right. I think it should be 14.1 EV
 
Avatar for Milan (Mike) Svitek Milan (Mike) Svitek (0:31 AM, June 24, 2012)
Continuous and point Auto-Focus in video mode. The Point focus is awesome, as it allows you to select from the nine cross-type focus points available while shooting video, press the AF button and it will focus, just like with still images!
Contrast detection only though... good enough for video.
 
Avatar for Kevin Rainwater Kevin Rainwater (10:36 AM, May 29, 2012)
Your price on this is way off.  

$850--Body only
$900--with 18-55 kit lens (you list $1043)
$1050--with 18-55 and 50-200 kit lenses
$1150--with 18-55 and 55-300 kit lenses
$1200--with 18-135 weather resistant lens

These are the standard US retail prices at launch.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:38 PM, May 24, 2012)
It is not quite waterproof, so we will change that. It is water resistant, which is better than just weather sealing, but I would not go swimming with it.
 
jjja (9:01 AM, May 24, 2012)
are you sure it is WATERPROOF?
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:47 PM, May 23, 2012)
Thanks we have made that change, it will just take a little while to show up. Again thanks for pointing that out.
 
I see with my eyes that (1:45 PM, May 23, 2012)
It does not have a flip-out screen.