Pentax K-5 In-depth Review
Review based on a production Pentax K-5 with firmware 1.0.1
In terms of operation and design the new K5 is all but identical to the K-7. For this reason, to gain a '360' view of the K-5's body design and operation we therefore recommend you not only read this review, but also the relevant sections in our full review of the Pentax K-7.
When the K10D was launched in September 2006 it was Pentax's first foray into the 'enthusiast' DSLR market, competing at the time with rivals such as the Canon EOS 30D and the Nikon D200. Four years later in 2010 the enthusiast sector of the market is as competitive as ever and the K-5, Pentax' latest offering to the 'serious amateur photographer', will have to fight for consumers' attention with the likes of the Canon 7D, Nikon D7000 and D300S, and the Olympus E-5. At a launch RRP of $1600 (body only) the K-5 is currently at a similar price point as its main competitors but we would expect the street price to go down sooner rather than later.
At first sight the K-5 is virtually indistinguishable from the K-7 (in some markets the K-7 will remain in the Pentax line alongside the K-5). Apart from an additional 'Fx' (which stands for 'flex') label on the customizable RAW button and a subtle redesign of the AF switch on its rear there are no readily significant differences between the K-5 and its predecessor the K-7. However, there is more novelty to be found under the hood - the K-5's most notable new component is a 16.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, which is probably closely related to the sensors inside the Nikon D7000 and Sony SLT-A55. The new sensor brings with it a higher maximum sensitivity (ISO 51200 in expanded mode, the highest on any APS-C camera to date), faster continuous shooting (7.0 fps vs the K-7's 5.2fps) and a 1080p full HD video mode (the K-7 offered a rather non-standard 1536 x 1024 pixels maximum video resolution).
Other improvements include an upgraded SAFOX IX+ AF system, inherited from the recently unveiled medium-format 645D, which features color-detection, wider coverage of the AF points and improved speed. Also new is a dual-axis electronic horizon (now with pitch as well as roll indication) and a few extra digital filters and custom image modes. Despite the changes, however, existing K-7 users will no doubt require very little adjustment time if they decide to upgrade to the new model.
| The K-5 has exactly the same dimensions as its predecessor, the K-7. Its magnesium alloy and stainless steel body is chunkier than Pentax's new upper entry-level DSLR the K-r (pictured here on the left) but still relatively compact for a camera in its class. |
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Key Features
Although it might appear to be a near-clone of the K-7, the K-5 offers some significant improvements in specification. Here is a rundown of the key features:
- 16.3Mp CMOS sensor
- ISO sensitivity span of 80-51,200 (equivalent)
- 1080p HD movie mode
- Limited in-camera movie editing functionality
- Socket for external microphone input
- Triple-axis sensor-based shake reduction (horizontal, vertical and rotational correction)
- New SAFOX IX+ 11-point AF system (improved over the K-7)
- Support for older Pentax lenses with manual aperture rings
- Magnesium alloy body shell
- Improved handheld HDR function (JPEG mode only)
- Continuous shooting up to 7fps
- 100% viewfinder coverage (0.92x magnification)
- Choice of PEF or DNG RAW files
- 3in, 921k pixel LCD screen
Model line history
| Model | Announced |
Effective pixels |
Continuous shooting |
Movie mode | LCD monitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K10D | Sep 2006 | 10.2 mp | 3.0 fps | n/a | 2.5" 210K pixels |
| K20D | Jan 2008 | 14.6 mp | 3.0 fps | n/a | 2.7" 230K pixels |
| K-7 | May 2009 | 14.6 mp | 5.2 fps | 1536 x 1024 30fps | 3.0" 920K pixels + Live View |
| K-5 | Sep 2010 | 16.3 mp | 7.0 fps | 1080p 25fps | 3.0" 921K pixels + Live View |
Pentax K-5 compared to K-7 and K-r
The table below shows the specification differences between the K-5's predecessor, the K-7, and the recently released K-r. Apart from the new sensor, the differences between the K-5 and the older K-7 are quite subtle. It is clear that Pentax has opted for selective improvements rather than a complete overhaul.
K-7 |
K-5 |
K-r |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Image sensor | 14.6Mp CMOS |
16.3Mp CMOS | 12.4Mp CMOS |
| Imaging engine | Prime II |
Prime II | Prime II |
| Sensitivity | 100-3200 (6400 with expansion) |
100-12800 (51200 with expansion) | 200-12800 (100 and 25600 with expansion) |
| Continuous shooting speed | 5.2 fps (40 frames) |
7.0 fps (40 frames) | 6.0 fps (25 frames) |
| AF | SAFOX VIII+ 11-points (selectable) |
SAFOX IX+ 11-points (selectable) |
SAFOX IX 11-points (selectable) |
| AE | 77-segment |
77-segment | 16-segment |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism Coverage: 100% Magnification: 0.92x |
Pentaprism Coverage: 100% Magnification: 0.92x |
Pentamirror Coverage: 96% Magnification: 0.85x |
| LCD screen | 3.0 in, 920k pixels | 3.0 in, 921k pixels | 3.0 in, 921k pixels |
| Movies | 1536 x 1024 30fps |
1080p 25 fps | 720p 24fps |
| Microphone | Mono internal or stereo external |
Mono internal or stereo external | Mono internal |
| HDMI output | Yes |
Yes | No |
| IR simple | No | No | Yes |
| Cross process mode | No | Yes | Yes |
| Night Scene HDR | No | Yes | Yes |
| Movie custom images modes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery | Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery | Rechargeable battery or four AA batteries (with adapter) |
| Cold resistant to -10deg | Yes |
Yes | No |
| Weather resistant | Yes |
Yes | No |
| Weight (body only) | 670g |
670g | 544g |
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.
We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X, Y, and Z and ideally A, B, and C.
This article is Copyright 1998 - 2015 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.
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| Sigma 18 mm - 250 mm f/3.5 - 6.3 Macro Lens for Pentax K | $349.00 |
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