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Pentax K-30

PRO rating
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How it works?
  1. User ratingsUser ratingsratings of product added by Productz users
  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
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  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Poor
  4. Average
4.2
based on all reviews
User ratings:
37
4.1 out of 5
37 user ratings
5 stars
40 %
4 stars
29 %
3 stars
29 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Editorial reviews:
36
  1. See more
4.2 out of 5
17 user ratings
5 stars
52 %
4 stars
41 %
3 stars
5 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • The controls and on-screen instructions are sensibly laid out
  • wonderful color reproduction and delicious sharpness
  • It cleans up in post processing pretty well

Cons

  • the light gets poor
  • autofocus struggling to get a lock
  • The handling feels odd at first

Key specs

  • CMOS
  • APS-C
  • 23.7x15.7 mm
  • 16 Mpx
  • 4928, 3264 px
  • Pentax KAF2
  • 3.5
  • Continuous Auto Focus, Face detection, Selective, Single Auto Focus, Spot Auto Focus, Tracking Auto Focus
  • 3.0 in
  • no

Compare technical data of the product to its category

Pentax

Pentax K-30 - Pros & Cons

Pentax K-30

Pros

  • The controls and on-screen instructions are sensibly laid out
  • wonderful color reproduction and delicious sharpness
  • It cleans up in post processing pretty well
  • pleasing color and good exposure
  • better accuracy and efficiency
  • The twin-dial control layout is also a great bonus
  • The video and recording capabilities are really good as well
  • it performed flawlessly
  • performs extremely well especially in rugged conditions and provides excellent image quality
  • very high quality lens
  • the quality of images was excellent

Cons

  • the light gets poor
  • autofocus struggling to get a lock
  • The handling feels odd at first
  • Telephoto Lens MISTAKES that Spoil Travel
  • lack of a top-deck LCD status panel
  • really missing versus the flagship camera is an external microphone jack
  • lack a PC flash sync socket and an HDMI output
  • Auto white balance also sometimes struggled in low light
  • noisy autofocus mechanism is cheap
  • missing out
  • detail is a little soft in its final rendering

Pentax K-30 - Technical Overview

PoorAverageGoodExcellent
IconScreen size
3 in
Best:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710
Screen size: 6.7 in
IconISO maximum
25600
Best:
Pentax KP
ISO maximum: 819200
IconEffective pixels
16 Mpx
Best:
Hasselblad H6D-100c
Effective pixels: 100 Mpx
IconMax resolution
4928 x 3264 px
Best:
Leica M11
Max resolution: 9528 x 6328 px

Pentax - Video Reviews (8)

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Pentax K-30 - Full Specifications

Icon
Sensor
Sensor typeCMOS
Image sensor formatAPS-C
Sensor size0.93 in
Sensor photo detectors17.0 Mpx
Effective pixels16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:2
Max resolution4928 x 3264 px
Other resolutions
  • 4224x2816
  • 3456x2304
  • 2688x1792
ProcessorPRIME M
Icon
Optics and focus
Lens mountPentax KAF2
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x
Maximum aperture3.5
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)Lamp
Focus adjustmentAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyes
Contrast adjustmentyes
Brightness adjustmentyes
Autofocus in recording modeno
Focal length multiplier1.5x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Selective
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Spot Auto Focus
  • Tracking Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyes
Manual focusyes
Auto Focus (AF) points selection
  • Auto
  • Manual
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyes
Number of focus points11
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)11
Image stabiliserBuilt-in
Filter diameter2.05 in
Phase detection autofocusyes
Icon
Photography features
Shooting modes
  • Aperture priority
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Program
  • Scene
  • Shutter priority
Camera shutter typeElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s
Shutter priorityyes
Aperture priorityyes
Manual exposure modeyes
Number of exposures3
Exposure compensation plus5
Exposure compensation minus-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Continuous shootingyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 12
Histogramyes
AE frames3
WB BracketingNo
Subject / scene modesyes
Flash sync speed1/180s
Built-in flashyes
Flash range12
Flash modes
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Second-curtain Sync
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoe
Flash metering systemP-TTL
External flashyes
Continuous drive6.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Backlight
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Museum
  • Night
  • Night portrait
  • Pet
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
Self-timeryes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 12
Speed (JPEG)6.0 fps
Speed (RAW)6.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 2.0±EV
Icon
Audio features
Built-in microphoneyes
Microphone typeMono
Speaker typeMono
Icon
Dimensions
Weight20.81 oz
Width5.06 in
Height3.8 in
Depth2.81 in
Icon
Power
Power source typeBattery
Battery life (CIPA)480
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported1
AC adapter includedyes
On/off switchyes
Icon
Other features
Timelapse recordingyes
Orientation sensoryes
Energy Star certifiedno
Frameyes
Languages support
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
Tripod mounting supportedyes
On Screen Display (OSD) languages
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
Image editing modes
  • Crop
  • Resizing
  • Rotating
Icon
Image
ISO
  • 100
  • 12800
  • 25600
ISO Autoyes
ISO minimum100
ISO maximum25600
Boosted ISO maximum25600
Maximum image resolution4928 x 3264 px
White balance presets9
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Daylight
  • Fine
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Fluorescent L
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Tungsten
Custom white balanceyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Muted
  • Negative film
Image stabilizeryes
Image stabilization typeSensor-shift
Supported aspect ratios3:2
Uncompressed formatRAW
HDRyes
AEB/HDR supportyes
Icon
Screen and viewfinder
Screen size3.0 in
Articulated LCDno
Screen technologyLCD TFT
Screen dots921000
Touch screenno
Field of view100.0 %
Live viewyes
ViewfinderOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.92 x
Dioptre correctionyes
Diopter adjustment (D-D)2.5 - 1.5
Separate info displayno
Second displayno
Icon
Videography features
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
HD typeFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • AVI
  • H.264
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1280 x 720
Max frame rate (highest resolution)30.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)60.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate60.0 fps
Icon
Design
Body typeSLR
Body materialPlastic
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Black,Yellow
  • Blue
  • Bronze,Green
  • Red
  • Silver
  • White
Anti-dust systemyes
Environmentally sealedyes
Icon
Storage
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Memory slots1
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.3
  • RAW
Icon
Connectivity
HDMIno
USB connector typeMini-USB B
USB version2.0
WirelessEye-Fi Connected
Remote controlyes
PictBridgeno
NFCno
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)no
Bluetoothno
Firewireno

Pentax K-30 - Q&A

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Pentax K-30 Pentax - Editorial Reviews (36)

4.2
Based on 36 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30
Pocket-lint logo
Pocket-lint
Published: 08.08.2012
Pentax K-30
4.5

The Pentax K-30 is a true return to form. The tough, rugged DSLR produces great images and is affordable too. Its only shortcoming is a relatively

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 review
ITProPortal logo
ITProPortal
Published: 22.01.2013
Pentax K-30 review
4.5

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 review
Amateur Photographer logo
Amateur Photographer
Pentax K-30 review
4.0

With a weather-resistant body and an impressive feature set, the Pentax K-30 is an entry-level DSLR that could just rival the big boys

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 Digital Camera Review
Reviewed Cameras logo
Reviewed Cameras
Published: 09.08.2012
Pentax K-30 Digital Camera Review

Read on to see if this intriguing weather-resistant DSLR has the performance to match the hype.

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30
Trusted Reviews logo
Trusted Reviews
Published: 14.08.2012
Pentax K-30
4.0

The Pentax K-30 is a mid-range DSLR that combines features from the flagship K-5 with technical advances from the recent K-01.

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 Review
Reviewed Cameras logo
Reviewed Cameras
Published: 08.08.2012
Pentax K-30 Review

The Pentax K-30 can venture into conditions that other sub-$1,000 DSLRs simply won't survive.

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 review
TechRadar logo
TechRadar
Published: 27.07.2012
Pentax K-30 review
4.5

81 seals to keep water and dust at bay

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 DSLR Camera Review
Reviewed Cameras logo
Reviewed Cameras
Published: 27.08.2012
Pentax K-30 DSLR Camera Review

The Pentax K-30 is a robust camera with some decent video features, but its performance was lackluster in our tests.

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 review
The Verge logo
The Verge
Published: 26.07.2012
Pentax K-30 review
3.7

A good camera doesn't have to be fragile

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews
pentaxforums.com logo
pentaxforums.com
Pentax K-30 Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

Introduction: An in-depth review of the new Pentax K-30, an exciting new advanced amateur dSLR.

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 review
T3 logo
T3
Published: 24.07.2012
Pentax K-30 review
4.0

The 16MP Pentax K-30 is the brand's latest entry-level DSLR for outdoorsy types

Pentax K-30 Pentax's K-30 Is A Decent DSLR Built To Take Some Knocks [Review] | Cult of Mac
Cult of Mac logo
Cult of Mac
Published: 06.09.2012
Pentax's K-30 Is A Decent DSLR Built To Take Some Knocks [Review] | Cult of Mac

The chunky K-30 is the latest DSLR from Pentax. Don't be deceived (or put off) by its unusual looks - in use, it's a fantastic general-purpose camera that

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 Review | Photography Blog
photographyblog.com logo
photographyblog.com
Published: 22.08.2012
Pentax K-30 Review | Photography Blog
4.5

The Pentax K-30 is that most unfashionable thing - a mid-range DSLR camera. But don't run away just yet - it's also the most affordable weather-sealed DSLR on the market, with a long list of desirable features to boot. Read our expert Pentax K-30 review to discover if the DSLR is still alive and kicking in 2012...

Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 Digital SLR Review
ePHOTOzine logo
ePHOTOzine
Pentax K-30 Digital SLR Review
4.5

Joshua Waller reviews the new weather sealed Pentax K-30 Digital SLR with 16.2 megapixel sensor and 6fps continuous shooting.

Pentax K-30 PENTAX K-30 - Adventure With It - Videomaker
Videomaker logo
Videomaker
Published: 22.05.2012
PENTAX K-30 - Adventure With It - Videomaker

Pentax K-30 is a camera that can allow you shooting independence. This DSLR joins a special class of cameras that are capable of both recording quality

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