Pentax K-5 Announced in 2 Days!

Pentax's new professional flagship to be officially revealed!

By PF Staff in Pentax Rumors on Sep 18, 2010

In just two days, the specifications on Pentax's new flagship DSLR, the K-5, will be officially announced in a press release by Pentax. Please stay tuned to our homepage for more details on Monday, and join in on the K-5 discussion!

Other links of interested:

• Pentax K-5 related topics
• Pentax K-5 details

We're just as excited about this release as you are! 

We will be bringing you complete K-5 information on Monday the 20th, so stay tuned!

Further Pentax K-5 Details

Credible source reveals further details on the anticipated pentax K-5

By PF Staff in Pentax Rumors on Sep 11, 2010

Please keep in mind that this is still only a rumor, but we do have a credible source suggesting the following about the K-5:

• The AF system will use highly-improved algorithms (SAFOX IX+), and will feature superior performance in low light situations
• The AF system wil stilll only have 11 focusing points 
• The body itself will look the same as the K-7 (suggesting that the leaked photos of the K-5 were real! -credits go to LensTip)
• The K-5 will use the same BG-4 grip as the K-7

Pentax K-5 Specifications - Official?

Official specs are out for the K-r, but what about those for the high-end K-5?

By PF Staff in Pentax Rumors on Sep 10, 2010

It has been been rumored that while September 9th would be the date for the official Pentax K-r announcement, we wouldn't hear anything about the K-5 until the 22nd- nearly two weeks later!

So far, here is all the credible information that we have for the K-5 specifications:

The body:

• Body-only price: $1699 (as this is the MSRP, prices at retailers will likely be at least $100 lower)
• Magnesium body with rubber and polycarbonate exterior
• Weather-sealed with 80 rubber seals
• Weight: 770g
• Dimensions: 131mm x 97mm x 73mm
• USB 2.0, HDMI, dual SD/SDHC slots

The image:

• Sensor: 16.2 Megapixel Sony EXEMOR; APS-C size: 23.6x15.8mm
• Shutter: up to 8 FPS continuous shooting
• New SAFOX IX+ focusing system with superior performance
• 18 AF points (7 more than previous Pentax DSLRs)
• AF-Single and AF-Continuous
• Manual Focus
• 4 new modes for AF-C: auto, action, portrait, and night 
• ISO range: 100-12800, expandable to 50-25600

• Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) 30fps or 25fps
• 720p (1280x720) 30fps or 25fps
• VGA (640x480) 30fps or 25fps
• Custom video modes: Av, Sv, Tv, M (a long-awaited feature)
• External microphone jack
• Expanded video processing

Viewfinder:

• Pentaprism viewfinder with 100% picture frame coverage and 0.92x magnification
• Focus points superimposed in viewfinder 

Flash:

• Available EV compensation from -2EV to +1EV with 0.5EV steps
• P-TTL flash, GN 13
• Sync speed of 1/250s or 1/180s, depending on external flash model
• Wireless sync, IrSimple sync 

As we can see by these specifications for the K-5, it will likely be more of a professional body, with the K-7 filling the gap between it and the K-r.

Pentax K-r Specifications

More information on Pentax's new body leaked

By PF Staff in Pentax Rumors on Sep 6, 2010

PentaxForums received the following information today regarding the upcoming K-r body, which is intended to be the successor of the popular K-x:

We have received the following information regarding the K-r:

...there is a cool, unique feature about the K-r that will help really differentiate it from the K-x; it will natively accept a lithium-ion battery but with an insert will also accommodate AA batteries. No grip will be required and a query regarding available grip was met with complete silence...

..another feature you can add to your list for the K-r is viewfinder illuminated focusing point.

New additional features of the K-r will therefore be:

• Native rechargeable battery support as well as optional insert for AA batteries
• Focusing points in viewfinder

They are in addition to the following rumored features:

• 12 Mexapixel Sensor
• 6 frames per second
• Up to 120 color combinations: 10 body colors, and 12 grip colors
• To be officially announcd in September
• To be released in October, 2010
• $875 suggested retail price
• Intro-level DSLR

We expect to hear more about this body on Thursday, September 9th, when Pentax is expected to give a press-release announcement. Discuss this news on the forum.

Specs on Pentax K-5 and KR Leaked

Two new Pentax bodies to be released in late 2010

By PF Staff in Pentax Rumors on Aug 23, 2010

• 16 Megapixel Sensor
• Maximum expanded ISO of 25600
• 7 frames per second
• To be officially announcd on September 20th
• To be released in October, 2010
• $1600 suggested retail price
• Serious-amateur/professional use

The Pentax K-5 will be the successor to the Pentax K-7, Pentax's current flagship model.  Although the K-5 will still employ an APS-C sensor, we expect this model to build upon the main shortcoming of the K-7: high-ISO performance.  With a maximum ISO of 25600 (4 times that of the K-7), the K-5 is bound to perform very well at lower ISOs such as 6400 or 3200, at which the K-7 had great difficulty producing usable photos.  If the K-5 will indeed launch with the current suggested price of $1600, it will not only become the most advanced digital SLR in its price class, but also a formidable rival for competing manufacturers.

PENTAX KR

• 12 Mexapixel Sensor
• 6 frames per second
• Up to 120 color combinations: 10 body colors, and 12 grip colors
• To be officially announcd in September
• To be released in October, 2010
• $875 suggested retail price
• Into-level DSLR

The Pentax KR will succeed the Pentax K-x, which revolutionized the intro-level DSLR market back in 2009. The KR is expected to further extend the already-wide feature set of the K-x, with an improved frame rate among with added controls.  At $875, it will retain is place on the market as the most cost-effective intro-level DSLR.  Upon the launch of the KR, the K-x's price is expected to fall significantly, making it an even bigger steal!