I think that a firsthand user's review, like you have provided, is the highest quality information that one can get on a camera. Thanks for the report.
I do find it interesting that the new issue of Popular Photography has a LAB * DSLR TEST of the Pentax K-30 this month. It's "Bottom Line"? "Pentax DSLRs have always formed their own niche in the camera market. While Canon and Nikon's lines tend to mirror one another, Pentax's "entry-level" DSLRs have always tended to be more feature-laden than the most basic models from the Big Two. For instance, while last year's Canon EOS Rebel T3i costs about $150 less than the Pentax K-30 when both are paired with their 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 kit lenses [typo?], the T3i and its lens lack the K-30's weathersealing and can't keep up with its rapid bursts. Furthermore, the K-30's sensor shift image stabilization, wich afforded our testers an average of 3 stops of hand-holding leeway, works with any lens you mount on the camera. Shoot with a LensBaby? It's stabilized. Try a 1950s-era screw-mount lens? Stabilized. With Canon or Nikon, you'll have to shell out more bucks for optically stabilized lenses. If you like the idea of a cost-effective DSLR that is weather-sealed, has enough resolving power to satisfy nearly all photographic needs, and has a faster burst rate than most of its price range, you won't go wrong with the K-30". - - - I thought it was also interesting that it outlined the AF tech that is in the K-30: "The K-30 has technology from Pentax's new owner, Ricoh: Focus Peaking, found in higher-end Ricoh compacts. When focusing manually in live view, you see a halo of contrast around the subject as it comes into focus. This seems strange at first but proves useful, especially in setting up a video clip." - - - If true, then the "AF technology" is really only available when *manually* focusing and only visible on the Live View. I'm speculating that this is the same implementation found in the K-01. It may be a plus for those whose eyesight is giving them trouble when using a traditional viewfinder. I have the feeling we'll see it on all future Pentax DSLRs. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
