Pentax
K-30
 vs
Pentax
K-5

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Pentax K-30 vs Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5

100

  
Pentax K-30

95

  
Winner

Pentax K-5

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
82.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
 
Runner-up

Pentax K-30

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-30

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.7x15.7mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 

differences

Advantages of the Pentax K-30
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lowest price Cheaper $507.79 vs $691.90
Help
 The best price we've seen is $184 cheaper (around 30% less)
Weight Lighter 650 g vs 740 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Size Slightly smaller 130x97x71 mm vs 130x96x72 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 2.8" vs 2.9"
Help
 Almost the same
Pentax K-30 Learn more about
the Pentax K-30

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 740 shots vs 410 shots
Help
 More than 80% more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 79.0
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 51,200 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The K-5's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 13 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 104 ms vs 162 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 600 ms vs 1100 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when turning on
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO vs 1,129 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has a slight edge (0 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/6000s
Help
 More than 20% faster max shutter speed
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30
95 vs 100
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-5.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
K-30:1,129 ISO
K-5:1,162 ISO
Weather sealed Both are weather sealed, which is fairly uncommon among similar cameras Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
K-30:79.0
K-5:82.0
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
9
Sensor size Large sensors Help
K-30:APS-C 23.7x15.7mm
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
K-30:162 ms
K-5:104 ms
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Size Fairly small Help
K-30:130x97x71 mm
K-5:130x96x72 mm
Thickness Thin Help
K-30:2.8"
K-5:2.9"
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
K-30:1/6000s
K-5:1/8000s
Weight Heavy Help
K-30:650 g
K-5:740 g
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
90 lenses
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
16.1 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the K-30
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$768 - $997 body only

$1,115 - $1,547 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-30
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the K-30
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7100 vs the K-30
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-30
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the K-30
Compare the D3200 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-30
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5

Pentax K-30 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Pentax K-30.

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Pentax K-5.

appearance

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-5
Pentax K-30 Pentax K-5
Pentax K-30 Pentax K-5

discussion

Showing 2 comments

shifty (5:19 AM, July 08, 2012)
this is a k-r successor not k-5
 
Avatar for Tomasz Marcinkowski Tomasz Marcinkowski (1:21 PM, July 06, 2012)
I can't understand why K-30 lacks so many semi-pro features that we all loved about K-5. I wanted to upgrade my K-10d to the recently relased K-30, but I know I'd miss a top LCD screen, external mic jack, K-5 battery life, body size (my big palms need big camera ;)) and *magnesium alloy casing*. K-5 with video capturing features of K-30 would be just perfect. How long will I have to wait for it to happen?