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The best Pentax DSLR bar none

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offertonhatter

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I have had this camera for 11 months now, and over 9000 shots later, I thought I would write a review.

Lets just start by saying that this is the finest Pentax DSLR that has ever been made. Why? Well as an owner of the *istDS, K10D and K20D I think I might be a good guide on this.

In the past, Pentax upgrades have been incremental, 6MP - 10MP, 10MP - 14MP and now 14MP to 16MP. But that is only part of the story. The *istDS to K10D was a leap, both in ability and functions, the K10D to K20D was really "only" a sensor change with better low light performance. The K20D to K-7 was a major body change and innerds, but same sensor. The K-5? Well same beautiful magnesium body as the K-7, but so much more. Why?

Low light - This thing is a beast and then some! Only the Nikon D3s can better it (sorry EOS 1Dmk4)
AF - best of all Pentax, but still not as fast as CaNikon, however more accurate most of the time.
FPS - how does 7.5 (official) sound, and the shutter is so quiet, it beats anything bar the Leica.
Resolution - Well this Sony 16MP sensor is winning all the plaudits for its performance and in the K-5 it has found its best camera body
Size - small. It is about the same size as the DS, and a lot smaller than the K20D/K10D. But it is perfectly formed and a joy to use. Think of it as a "pocket rocket"
Build - Very well built with full sealing. can't ask more than that.
Image quality - Can't beat it. paired with good lenses (DA*, Limiteds, even old primes) the IQ is superb.

In all honesty, this is possibly the first Pentax with no excuses, and has the ability to produce results that at least match cameras many more times in price.
It's rivals are the Nikon D300s(for features) and D7000(for resolution) or Canon 60D(for Price) or 7D (for performance) but smaller lighter and more sealed than any of them.

Go on, give it serious consideration, you won't be disappointed.

Problems:

I have one of the early models that has the sensor stain (not managed to get it swapped) but in the real world, it is not a problem.

with older MF lenses, the metering can be a problem (the DS is far better) but use the sunny16 rule, or a light meter, then you won't have a problem in using sharp old lenses.
 
PENTAX!!! CONTAX+PentaPrism, Boy! those Germans had great ideas, didn't they??
 
You say the K-5 is the best AF Pentax dslr, even though they came out with the K5-11 with better AF?
 
Please note the date of the OP. There was no K-5II when this was written.
 
I noticed the stale date of the OP also, but given that you can get the K-5 -- INCLUDING the 18-55mm WR -- for $829, adding "for the price" to the OP brings it up to date, and then some.
 
i think i read that [member] reviews are being integrated with the forums. more better integrated, even.

it is an old review. someone posted a comment and the old review popped up in this forum. i guess. otherwise, i am not sure why it showed up.

it may be an MS. found in a bottle...
drummercam said:
drummercam wrote:

I noticed the stale date of the OP also, but given that you can get the K-5 -- INCLUDING the 18-55mm WR -- for $829, adding "for the price" to the OP brings it up to date, and then some.
Click to expand...
 
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Your review becomes suspect when you compare it to other cameras. Have you used these other cameras?
 
SBS said:
Your review becomes suspect when you compare it to other cameras. Have you used these other cameras?
Click to expand...
As I have noticed that they now integrate the reviews in the forum. May I remind you that the title said the best "PENTAX" DSLR bar none. not as you are assuming the Best DSLR bar none.

I wrote it at a time before the mk2 came out with its superior low light focusing and the IIs with it's lack of AA filter. Even now we have the K-3. But at the time.....

As you have mentioned other cameras, yes I have used them, and on the whole I still prefer the K-5 size, performance and actual userbility. I don't say it as fact, never have, but a personal observation. Obviously even now replacements of that said cameras are out, and they are fine machines indeed. But please consider it as my opinion, we all have pluses and minuses with cameras, in the end that are only tools.

Would I consider a 5D mk3? Yes of course. Would I consider a D4, of course. Would I get rid of my K-5 and the tiny primes? Nope, it is for me a great package.
 
Whew! Talk about extended conversations? Well, I share most of your enthusiasm for the K5. I had been waiting for the K3 to see what it would bring to the table and decided to stick with the K5 platform. I ordered the K5II this week (and for only $703.49!). I would have ordered two (for the price of one K3) but my wife intervened. Like you, I would consider a 5DIII, except I don't like the price or the weight of L glass. The K5's and K3 are very good values, and I don't mind having the choice of their different characteristics.
 
SBS said:
Whew! Talk about extended conversations? Well, I share most of your enthusiasm for the K5. I had been waiting for the K3 to see what it would bring to the table and decided to stick with the K5 platform. I ordered the K5II this week (and for only $703.49!). I would have ordered two (for the price of one K3) but my wife intervened. Like you, I would consider a 5DIII, except I don't like the price or the weight of L glass. The K5's and K3 are very good values, and I don't mind having the choice of their different characteristics.
Click to expand...
Good choice. At the time the K-5 was the bees knees, even now the performance is excellent. However since I did the original review, the very low light AF is under-par. Still it is better than my K20D. Having said that, I don't often have to focus in extreme low light. I believe that the mk2 improves on that considerably.

I was considering getting a K-5IIs to partner my K-5, but since the announcement of the K-3, I think I will consider that instead. It won't be until the new year, but I will get the K-3. It will mean that my two body combo of K-5 and K-3 will be far superior to the now very old (in tech terms) K20D as the back-up.

As for the 5D mk3, that can stay on the back burner as a purchase.
 
A couple of months ago, some friends took us to Catalina on their boat. I used a K-5 / DA-70 to capture the dolphins playing in the boat wake. I've also used a Sigma 100-300/4 to capture some shots of a friend's aeroplane, as well as some birds.

I think the idea that Pentax isn't so great for sports is obsolete. It's a hold over from a time when things weren't as good.

I wouldn't brag about Pentax being the best camera available for sports shooting but the K-5 is certainly up to the task. I assume the K-5 II is better and the K-3 better again.

I have several sequences of dolphins jumping and every shot is perfectly in focus. To be fair, I wasn't shooting wide open but I've shot birds wide open with no problems. I'm getting keeper after keeper and I'm hardly a skilled action shooter.

--
-- Tom
 
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Tom__Brown said:
A couple of months ago, some friends took us to Catalina on their boat. I used a K-5 / DA-70 to capture the dolphins playing in the boat wake. I've also used a Sigma 100-300/4 to capture some shots of a friend's aeroplane, as well as some birds.

I think the idea that Pentax isn't so great for sports is obsolete. It's a hold over from a time when things weren't as good.

I wouldn't brag about Pentax being the best camera available for sports shooting but the K-5 is certainly up to the task. I assume the K-5 II is better and the K-3 better again.

I have several sequences of dolphins jumping and every shot is perfectly in focus. To be fair, I wasn't shooting wide open but I've shot birds wide open with no problems. I'm getting keeper after keeper and I'm hardly a skilled action shooter.

--
-- Tom
Click to expand...
Tom, I am in complete agreement. I`m sure that there are `better` cameras out there, but the K-5 does everything I require and more besides.

For me there is one big bonus that people sort of disagree with me, I`m talking about shooting in jpeg, for years I have considered how good it would be to reduce pp work. Don`t misunderstand me, I get a buzz out of pp stuff but I get a much bigger buzz out of being out there taking pictures. It has taken me lots of time to get the camera to make the jpegs close enough for me to do minimum work except for resizing and minor white balance changes.

This is the sort of image I`m getting with BIF.

ff87d182833d4025a6dbfdf3f5600032.jpg


There is considerable talk about high ISO K-5 v. K-3 at the moment. This next shot is ISO 10,000 and taken in jpeg, in low tungsten light. I have no front focus problems and the amount of noise is acceptable for me. So, for the time being I will continue to adore my K-5 and probably upgrade to the K-5IIs next spring.



bf5c276484c442d28eb3d277946ba7cf.jpg


Regards - Richard
Happy guy with a K5
N.B. All my Images, even the bad ones, are Protected by Copyright
 
Hi Richard:

You will find the K5IIs AF is even better than the K5, especially in low light.

Dale
 
Shhhhh... you can't say that Pentax cameras are good for sports! You-know-who might come over and try to educate us on how Pentax cameras are lousy for taking pictures of anything that moves.
 
Hello --

i am am going to soon have the funds to purchase my first DSLR -- but not my first SLR, I shot with 35mm in the 70's and 80's. I would like some advice about choosing a DSLR, in particular a full frame Canon or APS-C Canon vs. a Pentax.

I have just enough funds to buy a Canon 6D, but then I would not have any funds left, so I am considering more affordable options such as the Pentax line.

Can you please tell me which option you would choose?

a) Canon 6D [full frame], with no funds left for other things; OR

b) Canon with APS-C sensor (If so which model?); OR

c) Pentax with APS-C sensor (Which model?).

I intend to photograph urban areas, including city skyline at day and night times, people around the city that I meet, star trails, and car light trails.

Thank you very much for your kind consideration of my question. I look forward to you replies. Best regards,
 
juanantoniod said:
Hello --

i am am going to soon have the funds to purchase my first DSLR -- but not my first SLR, I shot with 35mm in the 70's and 80's. I would like some advice about choosing a DSLR, in particular a full frame Canon or APS-C Canon vs. a Pentax.

I have just enough funds to buy a Canon 6D, but then I would not have any funds left, so I am considering more affordable options such as the Pentax line.

Can you please tell me which option you would choose?

a) Canon 6D [full frame], with no funds left for other things; OR

b) Canon with APS-C sensor (If so which model?); OR

c) Pentax with APS-C sensor (Which model?).

I intend to photograph urban areas, including city skyline at day and night times, people around the city that I meet, star trails, and car light trails.

Thank you very much for your kind consideration of my question. I look forward to you replies. Best regards,
Click to expand...
 
"AF - best of all Pentax, but still not as fast as CaNikon, however more accurate most of the time."

How did you make this judgement? Even in controlled circumstances this would not be easy to prove. I think it's something Pentax owners tell themselves to make themselves feel better about the slow AF.

My K3 has respectable AF, but not fantastic. Focus lock still takes too long.
 
:-)
 
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