Pentax K-30 vs Sony A390: A Hands-On, In-Depth DSLR Shootout

Choosing your next DSLR gets trickier by the year - not because of a lack of choices, but because of the flood of options catering to every niche and budget. Today, we’re wheeling out two cameras from the early 2010s era: the Pentax K-30 and the Sony Alpha A390 to see how they stack up in practical photography and performance. These aren't the latest models, but for enthusiasts chasing solid gear on a budget or secondary kit, they still pop up in used markets and deserve a re-evaluation under modern scrutiny.

I’ve spent months shooting with both cameras - across landscapes, portraits, wildlife excursions, sports events, even some indoor macro challenges. The goal here is to lay bare how these two DSLRs perform in the real world and who should consider which. Fair warning: Ready for a deep dive sprinkled with hands-on impressions and some subtle kibitzing? Let’s get started.

Meet The Contenders: Classic Kits from Different Camps

First, a quick refresher on the specifications and positioning - it sets the stage for understanding their capabilities without marketing gloss.

Physical size and ergonomics differences: Note the bulkier K-30 compared to the compact A390.

To summarize, the Pentax K-30 positions itself as a tough little challenger with weather sealing and a solid feature set aimed at enthusiastic amateurs and semi-professionals, while the Sony A390 was clearly designed as an affordable gateway into DSLR photography, focusing on ease of use, lighter build, and an accessible price point.

Body Design and Handling: Feel Matters More Than Specs

Photography isn’t just about megapixels and burst rates; it’s often about how quickly and comfortably your fingers find the controls during the shoot. I’ve lost count of potential winners that faltered because their ergonomics were downright frustrating.

Top control layout: Pentax K-30’s dedicated dial-heavy setup vs Sony A390’s minimalist form.

The Pentax K-30 offers a traditional DSLR heft with a good grip - it feels reassuring in your hands, especially paired with weather sealing that begs for outdoor use. The button layout is detailed but intuitive if you're accustomed to DSLRs: dedicated dials for exposure compensation, ISO, and a well-placed front command dial streamline shooting on the fly. The top-plate is busy but logical.

Meanwhile, the Sony A390 opts for compactness and simplicity. The smaller size reduces fatigue over long shoots, but the downside is a plasticky feel and fewer dedicated controls - resulting in a more menu-dependent interface. The tilting screen earns points, though with its low 230K resolution, it’s less appealing for precise review and framing.

Back screen sharpness and tilt vs fixed screen: K-30’s brighter, sharper 3” fixed TFT vs A390’s tilt but dimmer display.

I have a particular fondness for viewing images on a crisp, large screen - both for checking focus and evaluating exposure. The K-30’s 921K-dot fixed TFT gives a bright, colorful preview that's easy to interpret, although no touchscreen functionality. The A390’s 2.7” tilting screen offers some compositional flexibility - especially good during low angle or overhead shots - but the low resolution and dimness make it a less satisfying tool for critical assessment.

Ergonomics Verdict: Pentax K-30 feels more professional and robust; Sony A390 favors compactness but compromises comfort and direct control.

Sensor Showdown: Image Quality Under the Hood

Anyone can slap a sensor in a camera, but the sensor’s type, design, and processing pipeline make or break image quality. Here, it’s a fundamental clash: Pentax’s 16MP CMOS vs. Sony’s 14MP CCD.

Comparing sensor specs and technology between cameras.

The K-30’s CMOS sensor brings with it all the benefits we expect from more modern technology - better noise control, wider dynamic range, and faster readout speeds facilitating higher burst rates. On DxOMark benchmarks, it scores significantly higher in color depth, dynamic range, and low light ISO performance (79 overall vs. 66 for the A390). These translate to cleaner images in challenging lighting, which I verified personally on evening nature hikes and street photography sessions.

The Sony A390’s CCD, while historically prized for pleasing color rendition and sharpness, is dated compared to modern CMOS standards. Most noticeable is limited ISO sensitivity, capping at 3200 natively, and higher noise from ISO 800 upwards. For daylight photography at base ISO, it still puts out pleasing files, but lift shadows or shoot indoors and the noise quickly becomes apparent.

Image Quality Takeaway: The Pentax K-30’s CMOS sensor edge delivers cleaner, sharper files with better versatility across lighting conditions.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed or Accuracy?

In my hands-on testing, AF performance really highlighted how these cameras were designed with different priorities.

The Pentax K-30 packs an 11-point AF system with 9 cross-type sensors - a solid setup for the era - offering face detection and tracking modes. Its phase detection autofocus combined with contrast detection in Live View enables reasonably quick and confident focus lock, even during continuous shooting at 6 fps. Sports and wildlife photographers will appreciate the faster burst mode and more dependable AF tracking.

The Sony A390's autofocus system is more basic: 9 points but no explicit info on cross-type sensors, and importantly, it lacks continuous autofocus tracking, which shows in real-world use. Burst rate caps at 3 fps, limiting action shooting significantly. Focus is slower and less accurate under low light or when tracking moving subjects. Contrast detection AF in Live View is acceptable but no match for the K-30.

While the A390 is not the right tool for fast-paced photography, it suffices for portraits, street, or landscapes where focus speed is less critical.

Making Portraits Pop: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye AF Thoughts

Portrait shooters often obsess over skin tone reproduction, autofocus precision on eyes, and lens compatibility for creamy bokeh.

The Pentax’s newer CMOS sensor renders skin tones more naturally and less plasticky in JPEGs straight out of camera. Combined with a robust lens ecosystem (151 lenses compatible via KAF2 mount), you have plenty of fast primes and portraits-friendly glass. Pentax badge lenses are known for delivering soft backgrounds thanks to wide apertures and solid optical designs.

Sony’s A390, despite a slightly lower megapixel count, produces agreeable portraits but occasionally holds a more clinical tone owing to the CCD characteristics. The Sony/Minolta Alpha mount has 143 lenses available, which is no shortage at all. However, without eye detection AF, and with slower AF overall, pinpoint focusing on eyes requires more manual skill or luck.

While neither camera possesses dedicated animal eye AF or cutting-edge facial recognition, the K-30’s AF tracking is significantly ahead.

Landscape Photography: Who Rocks Dynamic Range and Build?

Landscape shooters demand strong dynamic range to capture both shadows and highlights without losing detail, alongside reliability in varying outdoor conditions.

Pentax’s 13 EV dynamic range measured by DxOMark eclipses the Sony’s 11.5 EV. When I took both cameras on a misty morning mountain shoot, the K-30’s files allowed for more aggressive shadow lifting in post without noise penalties. Plus, Pentax’s dust- and weather-sealed body can shrug off some drizzle and dirt - compelling for a serious landscape shooter facing the elements.

The Sony A390, by contrast, lacks environmental sealing and requires more care to avoid harm. The lesser dynamic range means you’ll have to carefully expose or employ graduated ND filters aggressively to hold cloud detail. A small but nice win for Sony is the aspect ratio flexibility (3:2 and 16:9), making framing for screen-based display adaptable.

Wildlife and Sports: Tracking Fast Action

Sports and wildlife demand AF prowess and rapid continuous shooting.

Here, Pentax’s 6 fps burst at full resolution and capable AF tracking dominates the slower 3 fps and limited tracking of Sony’s A390. In a birdwatching trip with a long telephoto lens, the K-30 kept critters sharp and in focus more often than not, while the A390 required frequent manual refocusing and missed multiple shots.

Despite no built-in GPS on either, Pentax offers optional GPS add-ons - handy for tagging your wildlife locations during outings.

Street & Travel Photography: Discretion Vs. Versatility

Smaller, quieter cameras win street and travel hearts.

The Sony’s compact build and lighter weight (549g vs 650g for K-30) make it easier to slip into a bag or stay unobtrusive for candid street shots. The tilting screen helps get creative angles without attracting too much attention.

Pentax K-30, while bulkier and a bit louder when shooting, compensates with weather sealing and built-in stabilization - useful when traveling off the beaten path or shooting in wet conditions.

Battery life gives Pentax a strong advantage with approximately 410 shots per charge vs 230 for the Sony. For long travel days, this is meaningful.

Macro and Close-Up Work: Stability and Precision Focus

The Pentax’s sensor-shift stabilization combined with excellent manual focus aids and a variety of macro-capable lenses makes it a better choice for macro photography enthusiasts. The Sony A390 lacks any image stabilization in lenses or body and has less precise focusing aids, which can frustrate macro shooters needing fine control.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO Performance in the Dark

For astro and night shots, high native ISO, low noise, and long exposure capability are critical.

Pentax K-30 supports ISO up to 12,800 natively and turbo expands sensitivity to 25,600. Its sensor noise handling pushes usable images up to ISO 3200 and beyond with some noise reduction. Plus, exposure times up to 30 seconds (without bulb mode) and solid manual controls help.

Sony A390 tops at ISO 3200 without boost, and noise becomes evident beyond 800 ISO. No video recording or advanced exposure modes limit versatility for night shooters.

For bedtime star gazers, Pentax is your friend.

Video Capabilities: Does Full HD Matter?

This era’s older DSLR video features often fall behind today’s standards, but it’s worth noting.

Pentax K-30 shoots 1080p up to 30 fps with MPEG-4 and H.264 compression. For a 2012 camera, that’s respectable, supporting casual video recording or hybrid shooters.

Sony A390 - no video mode. If video is on your checklist, that’s a showstopper.

Storage, Connectivity, and Workflow Integration

Both cameras use SD cards, with Pentax allowing SD, SDHC, and SDXC formats while Sony supports SD/SDHC and Memory Stick Pro Duo - a legacy option rare nowadays.

USB 2.0 ports on both are standard but slow by current standards. No wireless or Bluetooth on either, which is expected for their launch eras.

Pentax supports raw shooting with compression-free files; Sony does the same. Both integrate easily into common workflows thanks to DNG compatibility (Pentax) or standard raw converters.

Wrap-Up: Picking the Right Camera For You

Pentax K-30: Who Should Bet On This Workhorse?

• Enthusiasts and semi-pros craving rugged weather sealing
• Those prioritizing image quality, dynamic range, high ISO performance
• Wildlife and sports shooters needing faster burst and AF tracking
• Portrait and macro photographers wanting a rich K-mount lens eco
• Video hobbysts wanting Full HD recording
• Travelers who prefer longer battery endurance and durability

Sony A390: Who’s It For?

• Beginners or budget-conscious buyers wanting an affordable entry DSLR
• Photographers favoring lightweight, compact build for street and travel
• Those who don’t require video or fast action capabilities
• Casual shooters who mainly shoot in good light and prioritize ease of use

Final Thoughts: Old Cameras, New Perspectives

Both cameras hold up relatively well when matched against expectations for their class and period. While Sony’s CCD sensor and dated features lag behind Pentax’s more robust CMOS system and advanced controls, the A390 remains a decent point-and-shoot DSLR for those just wanting to get into the hobby.

From my extensive field testing, the Pentax K-30 is overall the more versatile, dependable, and feature-rich camera that should satisfy a broader range of serious users - even ten years since release. It embodies the thoughtful engineering Pentax is known for, especially for outdoor enthusiasts.

And if budget, niche use, or size is paramount, the Sony A390 still offers an accessible doorway into DSLR photography - and who knows, with some good glass, it may still surprise you.

Pentax K 30 front Pentax K 30 screen back Sony A390 screen back

Whether you prioritize ruggedness, quality, speed, or simple shooting pleasure, understanding these tradeoffs will help you avoid buyer’s remorse - and instead fuel your photographic adventures.

Thanks for reading! Have you used either of these DSLRs? Feel free to share your experiences or ask any questions below - let’s keep the conversation going.