Pentax K-30

Good detail at low sensitivities (even better in RAW) ; Very good high ISO image quality, good detail up to high sensitivities ; Exceptionally low shadow noise in RAW files at low ISOs ; Responsive operation ; 6 fps and good burst size in continuous...

Lower JPEG highlight DR than competitors (without Highlight Correction activated) ; Live view exposure simulation has very limited range ; No external mic-socket ; No dedicated video button ; No stills capture in video mode ; Focus-peaking not...

The Pentax K-30 offers a comprehensive feature set, excellent high ISO performance and very flexible Raw files at an attractive price point and is therefore an easy recommendation for any stills photographer. However, if you are looking for a DSLR to...

Excellent image quality ; Rugged, durable, waterproof body ; Extremely fast performance

Video quality is lacking ; Mediocre autofocus ; Weather-proofing makes body feel cheap

The K-30's appeal depends on the annual rainfall where you live

Large pentaprism viewfinder. Weather-sealed body. 5.2fps burst shooting. Excellent control layout. Very customizable. Sharp kit lens. In-body shake reduction. Very good high ISO performance

Fixed rear LCD. No mic input. Slow to focus when recording video. Standard kit lens is not weather sealed

The Pentax K-30 is weather sealed D-SLR with a large pentaprism viewfinder. It shoots at 5.2 frames per second, does well in low light, and ships with a sharp kit lens.

Excellent photo quality, with low noise until the very highest sensitivities ; Solid, weather-sealed body ; Built-in image stabilization means decades worth of Pentax lenses will have shake reduction ; Sharp 3-inch LCD offers good outdoor visibility ;...

Video quality could be better ; Below average battery life ; Can't shoot RAW images at high speed in burst mode ; White balance bracketing would've been nice ; Lacks a stereo microphone, and does not support adding an external one ; No HDMI output

Overall, it's pretty hard not to like the Pentax K-30. For $850 (body only), you get a well-equipped, weather-sealed D-SLR that takes great photos. Sure, I wish it had better battery life, stereo sound recording, and HDMI output, but aside from those...

Weather-resistance seals keep moisture and dust out; Lighter and less expensive than roughly equivalent Pentax K-5; Grip is large and accommodating, offering great control

Menu still needs work and unfortunate that the base-level kit doesn’t include a weather-resistant lens

The Pentax K-30 made a splash—quite literally—when it was first introduced as a fully weather-resistant, budget DSLR earlier this year. While the marketing made it seem like some brave new innovation by Pentax, the truth is they’ve been making hardy,...