Pentax K5

[F111]

I'm thinking of getting the new Pentax K5. Anyone used this camera. Please give me some advice.

http://www.pentaximaging.com/slr/K-5/

 

[koffiejunkie]

I've played around with it in the shop. From what I've seen it's really excellent. The dpreview.com reviews put it above the Nikon D7000 too.

 

[F111]

I have read the report. Just hope that their is proper support from pentax localy

 

[koffiejunkie]

I have read the report. Just hope that their is proper support from pentax localy

I don't know how Pentax themselves are, but very few shops carry them, sadly.

 

[F111]

the review
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk5/

 

[Synaesthesia]

Just out of curiousity, why are you thinking about getting Pentax? Seems like a very nice camera. Around here it seems 99% of people use Nikon or Canon DSLR's. Finding lenses/accessories may be an issue.

Check out the new Olympus E-5 too, if you are open to something different. Lovely camera.

 

[F111]

Just out of curiousity, why are you thinking about getting Pentax? Seems like a very nice camera. Around here it seems 99% of people use Nikon or Canon DSLR's. Finding lenses/accessories may be an issue.

Check out the new Olympus E-5 too, if you are open to something different. Lovely camera.

There are a huge selection of lenses for Pentax and the K5 is compatible with every pentax lens ever made. I have owned 3 Pentax cameras and had no problems thats why i want to stay with the brand.

 

[koffiejunkie]

There are many reasons to consider the K5. For one, it's the king of APS-C high-ISO low-noise performance for now. The dpreview.com article shows it delivering consistently cleaner images than the Nikon D7000 (which shares the same sensor) and Canon 7D. DxOMark rates it, overall, above all DSLRs except Nikon D3S and D3X. It beats the 5DmkII in every discipline - check http://dxomark.com/index.php/en/Camera-Sensor/Sensor-rankings

Othr than the on-paper stuff, it's their flagship camera - it has all the goodies. It's also fully weathersealed and so is the 18-55mm WR and 50-200mm WR kit.

It's true that you can use any K-mount lens ever made, but it's not totally straight forward if it's a not at least an 'A' lens (i.e. one that communicates aperture electronically). The Pentax-M lenses work but you have do a metering shot first (green button, IIRC) before taking your shot. Slightly fiddly to use but for still images this means you can get good primes for next to nothing.

The Olympus E-5 is similarly specced, but remember that it's a 2x crop, i.e. a much smaller sensor, which just doesn't perform anywhere near as good as regular APS-C sensors, let alone this new beast.

 

[Synaesthesia]

Well if you've got Pentax lenses, then it's a great buy!

The Olympus E-5 is similarly specced, but remember that it's a 2x crop, i.e. a much smaller sensor, which just doesn't perform anywhere near as good as regular APS-C sensors, let alone this new beast.

You mean slightly smaller, not much smaller. It's 2/3rds the size. I've looked at reviews and many sample pictures, the E-5 is totally up there with the APS-C crowd in terms of image quality.

Anyway, I was just wondering about your choice, it makes sense. Looks like a killer camera.

 

[Quantum Theory]

The dpreview.com article shows it delivering consistently cleaner images than the Nikon D7000

Don't know. They are very closely matched. Nikon has always had a less contrasty image output, than Pentax. That does not make it worst. The price, AF and ergonomics surely swings it Nikon's way. I might be biased... If I had Pentax glass, I would consider it.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Price? They're pretty similarly priced, and both are still on their initial release high. AF, yes, definitely. Egronomics? That's subjective and personal. I don't like either as much as Canon's but that's my taste. I'm not a great fan of Pentax's egronomics, but I find Nikon's even worse

 

[Quantum Theory]

Price? They're pretty similarly priced, and both are still on their initial release high. AF, yes, definitely. Egronomics? That's subjective and personal. I don't like either as much as Canon's but that's my taste. I'm not a great fan of Pentax's egronomics, but I find Nikon's even worse

$1468 vs $1199 for body @ B&H... and I like the Nikon ergonomics, but yes, it is subjective. Main thing is, I don't think the Pentax's image quality, outperforms the Nikon.

 

[koffiejunkie]

$1468 vs $1199 for body @ B&H... and I like the Nikon ergonomics, but yes, it is subjective. Main thing is, I don't think the Pentax's image quality, outperforms the Nikon.

Yeah, the price is out of whack in the US - people have been bitching about it on the dpreview forums. In the UK the price difference is £16

 

[Quantum Theory]

Yeah, the price is out of whack in the US - people have been bitching about it on the dpreview forums. In the UK the price difference is £16

Interesting... What's up with that?

 

[koffiejunkie]

No idea. Incidentally, the D300S is a mere £8 more...

 

[Quantum Theory]

No idea. Incidentally, the D300S is a mere £8 more...

At the moment, most people would take the D7000 over the D300s...

 

[F111]

I got my K5 the manual is 370 pages its not going to be easy to master this one in a short time as this is the first digital camera that i own. upgrade from my Pentax MZ5n 35mm

 

[Synaesthesia]

Awesome. Well done. A tip: put it on "A" mode for most things, and adjust the exposure compensation if needed.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Congrats F111 - great to have modern Pentax representation here

Shout if you need any help.