Pentax launches their new Pentax K30 DSLR camera

[macropixman]

hi everyone..

I'd like to seek the advice of long time Pentax shooters.
I'm looking for a light travel camera together with either 3 fast primes or 2 fast teles that can cover between 18mm-90/100mm.
The K30 specs looks promising barring the reviews but I have no idea about which Pentax lenses are the the best in iq assuming cost is no issue i.e. no need to balance out the value for money proposition..
What would be the best choices to cover the focal length mentioned for
i) 3 fast primes i.e. f2.8 or even better (assuming 18-20mm, 35-40mm, 75-100mm-approximate focal lenghts)
ii) 2 constant aperture f2.8 teles to cover the same range.

I'm considering the OM-D with simlar focal length setups but I'd prefer a larger sensor such as APS-C if the iq is better than the OM-D.
I'm just tired of lugging a full frame body with 3 full frame lenses on my travels.

Thanks v much...

[vinsant]

What would be the best choices to cover the focal length mentioned for
i) 3 fast primes i.e. f2.8 or even better (assuming 18-20mm, 35-40mm, 75-100mm-approximate focal lenghts)
ii) 2 constant aperture f2.8 teles to cover the same range.

My friend, look no further than the Three Limited Pancake lenses. DA 21mm f3.2, DA 40mm f2.8, DA 70 f2.4.

They're small, light and holy hell are they sharp.

[macropixman]

Vinsant,

Thanks.. will definitely consider this combi…

Any highly recommended sharp fast constant aperture ultra-wide (18-20mm) to mid-tele (70-100mm) zooms in the Pentax range for a convenient 1 lens for travel ?

My friend, look no further than the Three Limited Pancake lenses. DA 21mm f3.2, DA 40mm f2.8, DA 70 f2.4.

They're small, light and holy hell are they sharp.

[macropixman]

Apart from the obvious focal length and aperture, can anyone who has a good working experience of all these 3 lenses share their information on the sharpness, color rendition, focussing speed, fast locking focus and WR.
Value for money is not a consideration but best in class of the the above features from these 3 lenses is most important.

Thanks…

Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4 ED AL
Pentax SMCP-DA 17-70mm f/4 AL (IF) SDM
Pentax SMCP-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM Zoom Super Wide-Telephoto

Would also appreciate private msgs on which dealers selling Pentax that offer the most competitive pricing. Looking at the K30 & one of the above teles for a start. I know the K30 is not yet in the market but I can wait since its coming soon.

[jjwei]

Apart from the obvious focal length and aperture, can anyone who has a good working experience of all these 3 lenses share their information on the sharpness, color rendition, focussing speed, fast locking focus and WR.
Value for money is not a consideration but best in class of the the above features from these 3 lenses is most important.

Thanks…

Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4 ED AL
Pentax SMCP-DA 17-70mm f/4 AL (IF) SDM
Pentax SMCP-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM Zoom Super Wide-Telephoto

Would also appreciate private msgs on which dealers selling Pentax that offer the most competitive pricing. Looking at the K30 & one of the above teles for a start. I know the K30 is not yet in the market but I can wait since its coming soon.

pentax2u.com, its an open secret

[firefly]

Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 if you can consider 3rd party lens.

[vinsant]

Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4 ED AL
Pentax SMCP-DA 17-70mm f/4 AL (IF) SDM
Pentax SMCP-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM Zoom Super Wide-Telephoto

If you can get the 16-45, that was one of the sharpest zooms, period. Much sharper than the 16-50. Difference is that it's no longer in production and is not Weather Resistant or SDM (Silent Drive Motor).

I like the 17-70 f4 for travel. Personally it's just wide enough and just tele enough for most things, and wide open at f4 is fairly sharp and great for any situation.

[maxby]

I am using the 17-70mm..

[macropixman]

jjwei,vinsant,firefly,maxby,

thanks everyone for your info...still doing homework...

not easy to shortlist a light APS-C camera with good high ISO (at least 1,600) with a choice of great iq lenses that covers at least 24mm (preferably 18mm) to 90mm (35mm equivalent)
The OM-D looking more and more the only alternative but the K30 should have better iq going by sensor size..4/3 vs APS-C

[vinsant]

Ideally we have just helped you with that - The K30 should have ISO performance that is similar to the K5, which to date is still the highest rated APS-C performer on DXOmark. Couple that with a series of great pancake lenses (you can try the DA 15 - gorgeous piece of glass) and you've got a fantastic travel camera.

[hagiri_11]

More pics of the K30 at Pentax Singapore Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/PentaxSingapore

They seem to have several demo units already

[Iskandar Taib]

it is priced at USD899 with the kit lens.so we can estimate the price around here by looking at that price.

So I'd expect around RM3000. Which is about right.. No sense in making it a RM2000 item, it'll then compete with the K-01, and no one would buy a K-01.

Not really in the market for another camera at the moment - I figure give it a year and I'll be able to get one for a lot less (my usual strategy). I wonder if Pentax will do the hundred color combos with this, plus the Kore Ja Nai Robo special edition, etc. or will that all go to the K-01?

Iskandar

[maxby]

I wonder if the sensor is different from the K5

[Iskandar Taib]

Given that the K5 was announced almost two years ago I'd expect the sensor to be at least incrementally better. Probably a different part number. But it would be the same sensor as on the K-01. The "K3" will probably have something with significantly more pixels, of course.

Iskandar

[firefly]

This will be the mid range, aka Canon XX0D series. I wonder if they will still produce affordable Pentax bodies.

[firefly]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...8211133&type=1

[abejoe]

I wonder if the sensor is different from the K5

"The K-30 is built around the updated 16MP CMOS sensor and processor used in the K-01 - one of the only cameras we've seen to exceed the K-5's low light performance. And that's promising, even before you venture further into the specifications."

Pentax K-30 Hands-on Preview
May 2012 | By Richard Butler