Did lot's of research. need user advice to decide!

[mrkayak]

i've been doing a lot of research for my first dslr and i've narrowed it down between the nikon d5100 (suits my photography requirements) or the more expensive pentax k-30. I don't like the feel of the k-30 (feels cheap), but I love the fact it's weather resistant! I'm wondering if it's really worth it to strecth my (limited) budget to get the weather sealing? Since my budget is restricted, if I go with the pentax it would be with the kit lens, wich is not water resistant. I can't decide! I am a beginner, but looking to keep it for the long term. Total price difference is only 100$ ; 675$ vs 575$, but 575$ is already above my budget!

My needs are clear: i like taking pictures outdoors (near water) or indoors low-light with tripod (often dusty) places.

Have users of nikon's mid-range dslr often had problems with dust? Even if I don't swap lenses it dusty environment?

Have user of nikon's mid-range dslr often had issues with water & humidity, even if simply handling with moist hands in a kayak then going back it a dry-bag?

Thanks in advance for your help,

David.

 

[orb9220]

Have users of nikon's mid-range dslr often had problems with dust? Even if I don't swap lenses it dusty environment?

Most use a Giotto Rocket Bulb to blow off the majority of dust when the need arises. And not all dust is visible in images until you stopped down to f8-f22 range. Since most shoot in the f1.8-f8 range most dust is invisible to the sensor unless the dust is of a larger nature like Dust Bunnies.

If the blower bulb doesn't suffice there is always the wet clean method using sensor swabs and E2 eclipse fluid to clean the sensor. Mine requires a wet clean about once a year. And I change lenses all the time outdoors.

Have user of nikon's mid-range dslr often had issues with water & humidity, even if simply handling with moist hands in a kayak then going back it a dry-bag?

Nope as a matter of fact just was out in rainstorm with my D90 today. Tho not waterproof the nikon line is pretty robust and water-resistant. I have had D40,D80 and D90 up to 20 mins in the rain without ill effect and all needing a good toweling off and drying.

Can't answer your other question as I shy away from entry cameras like the D5100. As lack of dedicated controls and more features left me wanting a more capable camera after only 9 months. Built-in motor for AF and AF-D lenses,Built-in Flash commander mode. Things like 2nd command wheel and more dedicated buttons means my eye doesn't need to leave the viewfinder to go menu digging. And the Bigger,Brighter Viewfinder of a pentaprism vs. the entry level cameras smaller pentamirror viewfinders. So when people ask when considering then will always steer to the D90 on a tight budget or a D7000.

And since you are considering the K30 why isn't the D7000 in your considerations?
As seen them used or refrub for around the $700 mark. Used even cheaper.
I would even recommend the D90 over the D5100 but that's based on my needs and may or may not fit yours.
.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

IMO, I would go with the Pentax solely on the fact that:

It's weather sealed
Larger Viewfinder
Faster Framerate for continuous shooting
Pentaprism viewfinder (gives you 100% coverage)
has a built in focus motor ( no need to buy lenses that have a focus motor in them)
It has Image Stabilization
1/6000 Max Shutter (D5100 Only has 1/4000, making the Pentax 30% faster)

With all of that said... you aren't going to notice a huge difference in image quality, they are very close in camera spec. However, for your needs... I'd say the pentax is the way to go. I mean, you're only talking like $40-50 extra for the Pentax.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

Nope as a matter of fact just was out in rainstorm with my D90 today.

Define "Rainstorm."

 

[KmH]

.....has a built in focus motor ( no need to buy lenses that have a focus motor in them)....

Poor Canon owners.
None of Canon's camera bodies have had a focus motor in them since 1987.
Canon owners only have 1 option - buying lenses that have a focus motor in them.

Nikon's D5100 is one of their compact entry-level DSLRs, which is why it doesn't have a focus motor in it - so it can be compact.
All but a few of the lenses that Nikon makes that don't have an AF motor in them used to be pro grade lenses, and cost quite a bit more than most D5100 owners are willing to pay for a lens, motor or not.
That tends to make the AF motor issue moot for entry-level DSLR buyers.

Just some background info - Nikon and Pentax are the only 2 camera makers that didn't opt to redesign their camera to lens interface in the late 1980's to accommodate auto focus.

...It has Image Stabilization....

Both in-the-camera (move the image sensor) and in-the-lens IS have their +'s and -'s.
A big difference is in-the-lens IS can be seen in the viewfinder, and helps to frame a shot. In-the-body IS can not be seen in the viewfinder of DSLR cameras.

Image stabilization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In-body image stabilization requires the lens to have a larger output image circle because the sensor is moved during exposure and thus uses a larger part of the image. Compared to lens movements in optical image stabilization systems the sensor movements are quite large, so the effectiveness is limited by the maximum range of sensor movement, where a typical modern optically stabilized lens has greater freedom. The required sensor movement (both speed and range) increase with the focal length of the lens being used, making sensor-shift technology less suited for very long telephoto lenses, especially when using slower shutter speeds because the available motion range of the sensor quickly becomes insufficient to cope with the increasing image displacement.

....1/6000 Max Shutter (D5100 Only has 1/4000, making the Pentax 30% faster)....

But 1/6000 is only 2/3 of a stop faster, regardless the %.

Both are good cameras.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

All but a few of the lenses that Nikon makes that don't have an AF motor in them used to be pro grade lenses, and cost quite a bit more than most D5100 owners are willing to pay for a lens, motor or not.
That tends to make the AF motor issue moot for entry-level DSLR buyers.

I may be reading this incorrectly. However, to my knowledge, there are TONS of non professional AF-D lenses available for Nikon mount, and are MUCH less in price than the AF-S models of the same lens series. 50mm 1.8, 35mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8, 70-300mm 4-5.6 are some examples of these. You can also use older AF glass on a Nikon with a built in focus motor. So, I don't see where you are getting this from. However, once again, I could be misreading what you are saying.

 

[orb9220]

Nope as a matter of fact just was out in rainstorm with my D90 today.

Define "Rainstorm."

Video's like these was the reason I didn't use the term "Light Showers" :er:

But have had cameras get a good soaking that required a toweling off and waiting for the top lcd to unfog.
Not saying they are water-proof so much as water resistant. And have no qualms being caught out in light rain or short duration showers.

From the Video comments:

I knew the D7000 was weather "resistant", but that was trial by fire. Not exactly the way I wanted to find out how weather resistant it was. lol But even after being soaked for a solid hour and it being very humid afterwards, it still works perfect even 6 moths after.

.

 

[mrkayak]

Thank you for your feedback guys,

And since you are considering the K30 why isn't the D7000 in your considerations?
As seen them used or refrub for around the $700 mark. Used even cheaper.
I would even recommend the D90 over the D5100 but that's based on my needs and may or may not fit yours.
.

I am a bit paranoid and i don't want to buy used, i would prefer going with a new d5100 vs used d7000. I don't plan on buying a lot of lenses anyway, maybe a wide-angle prime lense in the future, that's it...
I really don't think my learning curve will be as quick as yours, I am very confident that a d5100 would meet my needs for a lot more than 9 months.

The only reason I would pay more for the pentax is the peace of mind bringing my camera in my kayak et saving the cost of buying a weatherproof point-&-shoot that offers very ordinary picture quality. I must say the reviews with people dipping a k-30 in the river or under the faucet for at every angle for a few minutes are conforting, even though I never plan on that happening. Also living in quebec, winter, snow and cold is a reality and humidity problems scare me a little.

IMO, I would go with the Pentax...​

Also having nikon d7000 user guiding me to go with the pentax family is good motivation.

So in the end, I think my paranoia, budget and needs will make me tend for the k-30, even if was seconds away from ordering the d5100 a few days ago! Not only to decide if I get a wr lens as well...

 

[leighthal]

Just bought K30 after my kid destroyed my K20 with his crutches. Don't ask.... he's a klutz to the extreme! If I had to do it all over again I'd try to find the older K20. They made the K30 more "user friendly". It seems that manual settings are treated as a secondary function. My two main concerns are how light they made it. The K20 seemed to fit in my hand with ease, nice and stable. The K30 is awkward to hold. Coming from a pipsqueak girl that's saying a lot. The other concern is they switched the rear and forward rocker controls. For a new user not much of an issue but for me..... AAARRGGGGGHHH!!!!
Loved my K20. K30 is great, just redesign is more geared to new shooters who shoot scenes.

 

[Derrel]

Pentax has some pretty sweet lenses for APS-C cameras!!! Both primes, and zooms, as well as their cool 10-17mm DA* Fisheye Zoom. You'll probably really,really enjoy the amazing ergonomics and the design ethos that underly Pentax cameras.