| Author: | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 18 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, size, weather sealing | | Cons: | | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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Jumped from a K200d to this and very happy I waited till it was within my budget. Great camera, purchased at the end of its cycle new for $750 - can't beat that quality/cost ratio! Will wait another 1-2 years before grabbing the K3, the limiting factor in my current image quality is me, not the camera!  | | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: June, 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Posts: 6,124 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $950.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image quality, ISO 80, dynamic range, ergonomics, WR | | Cons: | low light focus | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 6
Features: 9
Value: 8
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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I bought this as a new used camera almost 2 years ago from another foum member (he accidentally ordered 2, so it was new in box, but technically used) when I wanted to tep from the Kx. Ohh boy was I glad I did. The handling, quiet shutter, build, and image quality were awesome. I could take pictures in places I never could before without getting the highlights or shadows blown. The weather sealing kept me shooting in very dusty and wet conditions that I was a bit afraid to take my old Kx in. I was hooked.
I do plenty of anime convention shooting and while the Kx was good, this one is awesome for cosplay photography. Where it really shines is in landscapes and wildlife though. With this camera being what it is you can really screw things up easily, but once you learn it you're going to get good pictures.
My only real complaint has been low light autofocus and how big the autofocus sites seem. It was a learning curve to come up with workarounds for those issues, and now I rarely miss.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: September, 2012 Posts: 33
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,182.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | light, rugged, IQ | | Cons: | low-light AF issues | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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this was my upgrade from K 100D Super.
I must say, I was blown away by the haptics, features and IQ. Particulary I liked the two control wheels the lack of which was really noticeable on K100D Super (after I tried K5 in store  ). AF assist light came in handy from time to time. Its really great for its value!
Unfortunately my copy developed some AF issues over time, so I had to send it back.
After considering K5II for a while and with all the rumors coming up I decided to wait for the next body to be released. So now I am looking forward to my next purchase, which is going to be K3.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2013 Posts: 61 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Solid, WR, nice quality, lighter than competition.. | | Cons: | focus hunting on sigma 17-70 lens | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 7
Autofocus: 6
Features: 9
Value: 8
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 8
New or Used: New
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The camera is nice, as an amateur i can't really fault it anyway...I had problems in dim light with auto focus and Sigma 17-70 2.8 - 4
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Canberra, ACT Posts: 147 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,200.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Light, Fits my asian hands, Very practical | | Cons: | AF hunts a fair bit, and is quite bad in low light. | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 7
Features: 9
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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This was my first DSLR, so I don't have a lot to compare it to.
My favourite features are the program menu, and the green button.
The program menu is concise and easy to use. I picked up Dad's Nikon 5100, and there were almost double the number of programs on the menu, most of which even he doesnt know how to use. Pentax is very user friendly, and convenient to navigate around. Although I havent figured out what to use the AE-L button for...
The green button is very handy when shooting in M. It's a very quick convenient way to bring the settings to roughly what you need.
My only qualm is the AF (which is much better in it's successors), but it is quite difficult to use at night. I usually just resort to MF because the AF either can't find it, or takes too long.
One of my first shots on my K-5 in January
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/10268706164_f0605ed90d_b.jpg | | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: South AFrica Posts: 298 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: March, 2011 Location: Annawan, IL Posts: 5 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,349.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Solid and comfortable. It is a great build and takes pro-style photos. | | Cons: | It takes some learning. It is the first camera I owned, that wasn't point and shoot. | | Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 8
Features: 9
Value: 9
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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I love the photos this camera takes. It is well built and comfortable. A great camera for the money.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2011 Posts: 69 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Feels solid, great picture quality and features. | | Cons: | Focus in low light, think my copy might have a bad weather sealing some where. | | Years Owned: 0.25
Ergonomics: 8
Build Quality: 6
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 4
Features: 8
Value: 8
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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I am quite happy about this purcase. I upgraded from K-X and the picture quality upgrade was inspirational. Two things was disapointing. The weather sealing did not live up to my expectations and low light focus is just not good. Focus is also a little slow in general. The weathersealing issue i presume is a problem not so common. I might have gotten a bad or to hard used copy of K-5. Also I am not sure if the trouble is within the camera or if it is the DA* 16-50 that inhale water. I will still recomend this to people wanting a good camera with great image quality.  | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2012 Location: Melbourne Posts: 432 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Image quality, reliability and durability. | | Cons: | Nothing that springs to mind | |
The Pentax K-5 is amazing value and an brilliant camera to use. It has a solid quality feel to it and is packed to the brim with features. The K-5 does everything, and does it grea!
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2011 Posts: 10 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,165.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image quality, robustness, ergonomics | | Cons: | AF for fast action, flash AE | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 6
Features: 8
Value: 8
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 8
New or Used: New
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What can I say? After two years of (ab)use: drops, knocks, downpours, dunkings in the sea, trips down a flight of stairs (don't ask - disagreement with a bouncer whilst shooting a gig!) my faithful K5 is still soldiering on as good as ever. Fabulous camera in almost every way.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: November, 2010 Location: Österskär, Sweden Posts: 35 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $2,000.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Cost-effective, good image quality, low-light performance, silent shutter | | Cons: | Menu structure not entirely user-friendly, limited after-market peripherals and used lenses, software support, high-actionAF | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 8
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 7
Autofocus: 6
Features: 9
Value: 10
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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Bought this to replace my K-x. Reasons: way more silent shutter, improved fps and low-light performance. Was not disappointed. Would have appreciatet predictive AF if available.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2009 Location: Maia Posts: 8 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,000.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | great ISO, excellent size, image quality | | Cons: | Focus should be improved | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 7
Features: 10
Value: 8
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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I have Pentax Km, Pentax k10 and I make un update for K5... but I keep the others.
Camara is great, excellent size, great in high ISO, quality of image is the best, I just make a small note for auto focus.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2008 Location: France Posts: 6 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,299.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small and handy good ergonomics | | Cons: | none | | Years Owned: 3
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 9
Value: 9
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 8
New or Used: New
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Good overall performance. This camera, with adequate lenses, is very good useable for photo series for exhibitions. However too much grain under low light conditions. Autofocus could be faster. With some twiking nice color balance possible. My son owns also a K5 which he uses professionally, si very intensively. He has problems about reliablity. The camera blocked completely. A complete revision under guarantee. But after this the camera rests capricious. Probably the K5 is less interesting for intensive professional use...
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2012 Posts: 118 | | Review Date: July 22, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $690.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | weather resistant | | Cons: | none so far | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 8
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 8
Features: 8
Value: 9
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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OK,
Here is my story.
I bought this K5 for AUD$690. but guess what? the price AUD$690 is for K5 body, DA* 55mm 1.4, DA* 16-50 2.8
YEAAA, I'm the LUCKKKYYY one.
i use pentax dslr since ist. i ever use ist dl, k200d, k20d, k-x, k7 and now k5 ( i still have k7 )
obviously k5 is the best so far.
i give the camera overall 8, simple, nothing is perfect 10. and 9 for full frame, medium and large format if any.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2012 Location: manchester Posts: 12 | | Review Date: June 6, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $900.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Quick, Quiet & Feels Like a Camera | | Cons: | Using external Flash | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 9
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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Right this is my 2nd pentax having owned a k-30 since its release i fancied a k-5 glad i got it i loved the k30 but this just makes everything better other than flash exposure problems, the pentax was just my personal travel camera i am also a wedding photographer and have been using canon until now, i now take the k5 which never leaves my side image quality is as good if not better the colours feel more life like, it also feels faster, now fancy a mk2 but word is a new model soon so going to hold on.
Right the only con is using flash (both camera and flash firmwares updated) i own metz 58-af1 which worked fantastic on the k30 and nailed exposure etc 99% of the time, the flash messed 90% of shots up on the k5, i tried a friends 44-af1 which worked spot on so bought one and am happy with and is ok 90% of the time the times i need extra power i have a 560 flash, if pentax could just sort the flash niggle i feel the camera and name would be right up there where it deserves to be with the top 2 C N.
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