Pentaxians - sell me on the K-30

Here's my thoughts, take it for what it's worth. I shoot mostly my two year old, along with family and vacation stuff, as well as some architectural tripod work. I had a K-r (the k-30 predecessor), and have recently switched to the k-01. Here's why. When shooting a child, I am almost always shooting at their eye level, not mine. So looking thru a viewfinder is practically worthless for me for most shots. And try shooting video while chasing them. With the k-01, it doesn't have an articulating screen, but holding the camera up or down at  I can frame just fine with the screen. Also, I don't have to get frisky with the tripod to frame a shot due to the rear lcd. And in bright sun, I have yet to not be able to frame a shot. half the time my shadow is over the screen. The k-01 has a much quieter shutter sound than the k-30. It's on par with the Sony. The Canon is loud as well.

I though about the waterproof of the K-30, but truth is, if it's raining, I am not out standing it anyway. What I really needed was a waterproof camera for sledding, pool and ocean stuff, etc. Something that can really get wet, go underwater, get banged around. So I may pick up a Pentax WG-3 to compliment the k-01. It's good enough for those type of family snaps and more versatile. I don't need a dslr for every shot.

One thing I found is that the k-30 feels a lot nicer than the Canon and on par with the Sony. Canon just feels like a piece of cheap junk in the hand. The k-01 blows them all away as far as fit and finish.

Now let's talk lenses. If you are going to shoot your kid indoors, you either need a faster lens or a flash. I just got a Sigma 30mm f1.4 and it's a new world shooting in the house. the 18-135 isn't going to cut it onm it's own. You are getting an interchangeable lens camera, don't buy it for it's kit lens choices, whatever you choose.

So in summary, I went through the same camera you are looking at. I liked the Canon touch screen, but the lenses are always giant soup cans and the camera felt cheap. The Sony A58 was nice, quiet shutter, lots of sizzle things like sweeping panorama, which I don't think Pentax will ever get around too, but there's just something about Sony that doesn't excite me, like I'm buying a camera from a tv company and not a camera company. I liked the NEX 6, but not the lenses. The k-30 would probably have been my choice if I had listened to the forums telling me I needed a viewfinder or it wasn't a proper camera. Hope this helps.