Body & Design continued
Viewfinder size and crop
One figure hidden away in every SLR's spec is the size of the viewfinder (often in a format that makes comparison between competing models impossible). The size of the viewfinder is a key factor in usability - the bigger it is, the easier it is to frame and focus your shots, and the more enjoyable and involving process it is.
Because of the way viewfinders are measured (using a fixed lens, rather than a lens of equivalent magnification), you also need to take the sensor size into account, so the numbers in the diagram below are the manufacturer's specified magnifications divided by the respective 'crop factors'.
The viewfinder of the Pentax K-30 is the same size as its bigger brother, the K-5's. It offers 100% coverage and a magnification of 0.92X. These numbers might not mean much, but as you can see in the diagram above, the K-30's viewfinder is roughly on the same level as Nikon's enthusiast D7000.
It's also noticeably larger than the viewfinders in entry-level DSLR's such as the Pentax K-r, but not surprisingly cannot compete with the much larger variants in full-frame pro-level DSLRs such as Canon's EOS-1D X. That said, the K-30 offers a large and bright viewfinder image that is on par with its peers in the enthusiast DSLR bracket of the market.
Body construction
The K-30's body is made of polycarbonate, with a stainless steel chassis at its center. The body is extensively weather-sealed, with all joins and ports featuring protective lips and bungs.
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Body elements
Hands-on Preview video
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