In the price range is hard to beat

For me, the main reason for the purchase of K-30 was the very good performance in low light conditions: little noise even at high ISO values ​​(without camera-internal noise reduction) and an autofocus that works reliably even in low light.

Very good, I like the approach to incorporate a stabilizer in the camera so that it is available for all lenses. Some lens types you do not get so otherwise with stabilizer.

It is handy that the camera has two dials, so that you can modify two parameters directly in the shooting modes without having to press a button in addition.

Another very good feature that is usually found only in more expensive cameras, the auto-focus adjustment, can be set individually with the optimal lens for each of the AF.

In this price range also not self-evident is the use of a pentaprism viewfinder for the image. Usually cheaper mirrors are used, where the image in the viewfinder due to the low light yield slightly darker fails.

Succeeded is also supporting older lenses without autofocus: the viewfinder there is a focus confirmation when the subject in the selected focus point is in focus, and with the function of catch-in focus, you can let the camera automatically trigger when the subject is sharp. From an optional viewfinder can focus manually facilitate further, and a third-party, there is even prism focusing screens.

A weak point of the K-30 is the video mode. The built-in microphone is mono and the connecting an external microphone is not possible. So for really good sound you need an external recording device. The AF refocused during recording is not efficient, so that you focus better manually, if you want to achieve useful results.

As a fundamental disadvantage of the brand Pentax would be noted that the range of lenses and accessories compared to the market leaders Canon and Nikon is restricted, which for example can result in having to skip a price range to a lens with the desired focal length and light intensity to get. Also on the second hand market is the offer comparatively not so lush, so that less widely used lenses may be hard to find and must be purchased new.

On balance, the K-30 is an excellent camera that brings a strong performance for its price with photographs, in video mode, but remains over the competition at a disadvantage.