| Author: | | New Member Registered: August, 2018 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 13, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Weather sealed | | Cons: | None | | Years Owned: 3
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 9
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 9
New or Used: Used
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This is my landscape camera because it is weather sealed. It has high ISO capability. It is not great for video but it works, best used for still pictures. You can use rechargeable battery that comes with it or there is an option to use 4 AA batteries with a insert. Overall great camera.
| | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: March, 2007 Location: Tucson Posts: 292
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 26, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $291.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Durable, great image quality, light | | Cons: | None I've found yet. | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 8
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 8
Features: 8
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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This is a little tribute to Pentax. I retired from my day job in February, 2015. I began setting up at least one camera in the yard, daily, to take hummingbird photos using Catch-In-Focus. Up until then, I had been doing this only on weekends and holidays. A year ago (July 23, 2015), I received a K-50 to use as the main hummingbird camera, since experience has taught me that I'd be shooting a LOT of hummingbird photos in retirement, and I didn't want to burn out my K-3 and K-5. I got it from Amazon for $290. A good deal for a 16MP camera that will shoot at 6 frames-per-second. On July 23, 2016 I checked the EXIF data for the last image taken on the 22nd. In the one year that I've had it, my K-50 has taken 64,668 shots. It's still out there today, taking more. It's been pretty toasty here in California lately. At 12:41 PM on the 22nd, it recorded an internal temperature (also in EXIF) of 51.7ºC, or 125ºF, in the image below. It has a tendency to shut down when the ambient temperature seems to get over 95ºF. I just go out at around 2PM and reset the shutter release to wake it up again. I don't know if Pentax gave the K-50 a bit of self preservation code to do that, but it seems pretty smart to me. Not only do Pentax cameras taken nice photos, they're durable as well. I'll try to remember to post an update in a year to report the shutter count at that time.
UPDATE: Today is July 23, 2017. Two years since my K-50 arrived. The 'Shutter Count' recording on the last image it recorded today was 237,243. I was hoping to get to 250,000, but that's not the K-50's fault. I blame that on the current dominant hummingbird in my yard who wants only her image taken, and chases all the other birds off. Perhaps in a couple weeks...  At one point, back in May, this K-50 shot over 2,700 hummingbirds in one day. I'd say this is a robust camera.
Here is image #237,243:
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2014 Posts: 2,080
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 18, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $599.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IBIS, Pentaprism viewfinder, dual control wheels, weather sealing and a great feature set | | Cons: | Solid but not state of the art AF, a bit loud | | Years Owned: 1.5
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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After being away from serious photography for over a decade, I decided to get a DSLR. After some research, I found that the K-50 offered the best bang for the buck and I really like the IBIS.
The camera handles great, it has excellent image quality and between physical and operational features, it is really pretty loaded feature-wise. And the IBIS make buying lenses more affordable. Plus, I intend to get into astrophotography and the GPS option is a killer.
I eagerly and honestly recommend this camera to anyone looking for a camera that meets a budget. Obviously, if you can afford a K-3 or K-1, go for it, but for people with more limited resources all the features and performance the K-50 offers are hard to beat.
About the only people I wouldn't recommend this to would be serious sports photographers or people that want sexy video features. Or maybe people that really, honestly need a quiet camera. Just about anyone else should consider this fine camera.
And just to be clear, my price for the camera was with the two kit lenses but before a $100 rebate.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2015 Location: Golden, Colorado Posts: 189
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 13, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $129.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Value and versatility | | Cons: | No articulated screen | | Years Owned: <1
Ergonomics: 8
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 9
Features: 9
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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While I am reviewing only the K-50 here, I’m certain that a lot of what I say will apply to the entire Pentax line of DSLRs, and probably more precisely to the K-30 and the K-500. I have owned a few Pentax film SLRs, but this is my first Pentax DSLR.
I bought my brand-new K-50 body for $129, so this review might be a little skewed in its favor. Before Christmas, Samy's Camera was selling a kit that included the K-50, and 18-55 WR lens, and flash for $349, with a $100 Promaster rebate. I received the rebate, sold the lens and flash. Even a middling camera is going to seem better when purchased for such a reasonable price. Did I say reasonable price? I guess I mean ridiculously low.
However, the K-50 is certainly not a middling camera—in fact, it is a steal even at the current asking price of $295 for body only. This camera would be a steal at $400.
There's only one thing I miss on the K-50: it doesn't have an articulated screen—those things are indispensable for getting down-to-earth or over-the-crowd shots. Once you’ve used one, you’ll never want to go back.
I can’t say very much about the K-50’s auto-focus capabilities, because I seldom use AF lenses. The only auto-focus lens I own, in fact, is the 18-135 WR. It's a good lens, but not nearly as fast (aperture- and focus-wise) as the 25-400mm (equivalent) on my FZ-1000; however, it covers a good range... and it's weatherproof. When I use it, focus seems to be quick and precise. I also use a Rokinon 8mm—I guess you'd call it semi-automatic on the K-50, as it has an "A" setting. But for 90 percent of my shooting, I’m the one doing the focusing, because my other six lenses, four primes and two zooms, are vintage glass, M-42 and K-mount.
I don't know of any other camera line that can shoot with such a variety of legacy and third-party glass. Also, I don't know why the K-50 is advertised or reviewed in so many places as an "entry level" camera. What more could one possibly ask for in this price range (or even if you spent another $400 to $600?). The K-50 beats the hell out of Nikon's 5000 series. It has a dial front and back for aperture/shutter speed, conveniently placed for forefinger and thumb, making manual shooting a dream. Also, these dials and most of the buttons are customizable.
To put this review in perspective, I also shoot with a Panasonic FZ1000, so I am spoiled with outstanding optics (amazing viewfinder and the sharpest 25-400mm lens around, and a very capable one-inch sensor—with top-notch focus peaking and an articulated screen) so my K-50 has some stiff competition for ease of use and IQ. Also, the FZ1000 rivals the K-50 for its ability to print professional-grade photos up to 20x24 and larger, although the FZ1000 begins to lose ground above ISO 1600.
Things I love about the K-50: outstanding sensor and low-light capability, industry-leading viewfinder, focus peaking (although not as good as the FZ1000), excellent JPEGs, great balance and a really chunky grip, ability to use a variety of vintage glass, weather resistance and cold proofing (a big advantage here in Colorado), tough, good looking, easy-to-use menu and customizability...
Did I mention that I can use almost any lens ever made? And like Panasonic and Olympus, Pentax puts the image stabilization in the body, so that every lens I put on the camera is a stabilized lens. What a huge advantage that is over other camera lines!
An interesting thing: with screw-mount vintage lenses (M-42 mount), the K-50 acts almost like they're auto lenses... just set the aperture and shoot in M or AV mode (you can shoot in TAV mode, too, if you limit the range of ISO)... no pressing of the green button, no delays, no missed shots.
NOISE: I always wonder when I see people rating noise if they're talking about 1, the actual sonic element (shutter, mirror, auto-focus too loud), or 2, image quality. In regard to 1, the Pentax is loud enough that it might interrupt a wedding during the vows. It ranks up there with a lot of film cameras: noisy but not overbearing. 2, the sensor is virtually noise-free up to ISO 3200, where it shows, especially on tightly cropped images, but the "noise" lends an artistic quality akin to film grain—pleasing, not ugly. The noise in my Panasonic looks like someone threw straw on a floor.
I grew up with a film camera in hand, graduated to SLRs when I was in the service, developed and printed my own film; had a Nikon Photomic Ftn, a Yashica-D medium format; then, later, three Canon AE-1 Programs. I currently own a Honeywell Pentax SP 1000 (up for sale here on the forums); just sold a cherry ME and a sweet MX.
More things I like about the K-50:
- excellent images: JPEGs are very good, so I only shoot RAW when I'm shooting for $$$
- the menu is laid out in simple format—one of the best (I'm comparing to Olympus and Panasonic)
- ISO 3200 is not only doable, but the "noise" looks like fine camera grain, not like straw thrown on a floor, so high-ISO shots are pleasing to the eye
- focus peaking
- weather and cold resistant
Here's a quick roundup of a few things I don't like about the K-50:
- SD card removal is difficult—you almost need tweezers
- what good is the ability to use AA batteries if you have to buy an adapter?
- no articulated screen—making it difficult to see the screen from various angles, and leaving this otherwise tank-like body vulnerable to damage
- focus peaking is only adequate
- auto focus with the 18-135 is okay but not industry leading
- no direct video button
- green button, which I use a lot, is poorly placed
In summary: You could spend between $600 and $1100 on a camera kit (I’m thinking of the Nikon D3300 and the D5500 2-lens kits on sale at Costco) and get less for your money than you get with the Pentax K-50. I would buy it again even if I had to pay $300 for it, because that is half what it’s worth.
The K-50 is an amazing photographic tool. I love mine.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2015 Location: Montreal Posts: 18 | | Review Date: December 29, 2015 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great feature set including weather resistance and 100% view through a real penta prism | | Cons: | Ergonomics could be better (i.e. the exposure compensation dial.) | | Ergonomics: 7
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 10
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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I dumped a Nikon 5200 for this Pentax and wow what a difference. I have shot with nikons for 25 years, but I am so glad I made the switch. There are so many used lens choices, and so many creative features to choose from that I could spend a few hours writing about these two points alone! The image quality is excellent and so far I am extremely impressed by the build quality. The Pentax K-50 is simply the best bang for your buck available in the market today!
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: May, 2015 Posts: 38 | | Review Date: July 19, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $270.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | WR, 2 control wheels, built quality, price | | Cons: | no battery grip, | | Years Owned: 0.5
New or Used: New
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I got mine this January on a spend-all-your-Christmas-money-here sale at Saturn. I already had an eye one the k30/k50 and when I saw the price of 300€ I couldn't resist and I was happy when an employee told me about the cashback which made it an even better trade for me. I already got to grab the K5 but I found it to be to much for me, the Nikon didn't feel right and the Canons in this league (650d/700d) well you know felt cheap and I found them useless for night shots.
So what can I say about it? I love it! I like the fact that I don't have to care about the weather, as long as I mount a WR lens and I love the 2nd wheel which spares me from going into the menu for changing the most basic settings.
The only complain I got is the fact that there is no battery grip available, but on the other hand if you really need to enhance the endurance then you can still go for the battery cage.
So if you want a solid performer in its class, the K50 is the right choice!
Not the best image on the web but okay for showing the WR in action  | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2014 Posts: 5 | | Review Date: March 26, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $485.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Built in shake reduction, two mode dials | | Cons: | new lenses are less in number and more costly compared to canikon | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 8
New or Used: New
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I am from India and am using this camera from last 6 months. While this camera is a decent performer and has many features like shake reduction and weather sealing that are good for a camera of this segment, on the down side it is noisy at higher ISOs and the new lens prices are higher compared to canon and nikon. In an industry dominated by canon and nikon if you want to get a foot hold, competitive price and better quality and features is the key. While Pentax is good at features it lacks in competitive pricing of its lens. At least in India which can be a big market for it, the availability of the pentax lenses is low and the prices are too high. Here are few of my click using this camera and some inexpensive lens.you can visit my flickr page to get some. But altogether this camera is a great one.
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: March, 2014 Location: Bolivia, NC Posts: 59
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 18, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $475.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | feel, image quality, Cost | | Cons: | None yet | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 10
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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I upgraded to this camera never having owned a Pentax before. I traded away my Olympus and could not be happier. The image quality is great, the camera feels solid and not cheap. I would recommend this camera to anyone.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Middletown, New York Posts: 2 | | Review Date: January 5, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $492.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Feel, ease of use | | Cons: | have found none yet | | Years Owned: <1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 10
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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I received this camera as a Christmas present (yes, I hinted!). It is taking the place of my trusty K-2000 as my primary camera. This camera just feels right - solid, well built, like an extension of my right hand. Although I have not taken many pictures as yet, the ones I have taken have been great. I expect to use this camera a lot this coming year.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2010 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 894 | | Review Date: December 21, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $499.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Cable release socket, Pentaprism, 2 control wheels | | Cons: | No external mic jack | |
I upgraded from a KX for the 16 MP sensor. This camera is a joy to use. It has a very solid feel, the controls are just right. The menu system is well organized. The shutter is quieter than the KX/KR, and weather sealing is a plus!
Image quality is awesome! Just wish it had an external mic jack for video. Thankfully, they did add a cable release socket. A really awesome camera, especially for the price.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 791
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 3, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | weather sealing, ability to use old lenses | | Cons: | | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 7
New or Used: New
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I love this camera .
For the cost I don't think there's a better DSLR out there. The similarly priced Nikon D3200 is way worse (the Nikon has no weather sealing, feels like plastic, and has only one dial--dual dials are a must). For a photographer with a limited budget, the K-50 is a quality option that allows to to experiment with legacy lenses without breaking the bank.
Almost immediately after buying I paired it with a Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7 and the pictures are simply amazing. The camera is very comfortable in my hand and feels solid. The only ergonomic complain I have, which is quite minor, is that the SD card is a little difficult to extract from the camera. You just have to be a bit patient and gentle with it.
I got mine with an 18-55mm kit lens, which is a pretty boring lens and I haven't used it since upgrading to the 50mm. However within its limitations the kit lens is pretty sharp and it's portraits at the longer end are very nice as long as there's enough light. To compare, the portraits from the 50mm f/1.7 are an order of magnitude better, so I recommend just going with the body and getting a cooler lens from the start.
For the most part the noise is negligible. Pictures up to ISO 3200 are usable, though definitely not as crisp as ISO800 for instance. The rendering of backgrounds isn't as creamy as I would like but that's only at 100% pixel peeping.
So far I've shot about 3500 pictures and no problems yet.
| | | | | amateur dirt farmer Registered: December, 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Posts: 41,778 | | Review Date: January 17, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $526.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | ease of use, manual modes, dual control wheels | | Cons: | none | | Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 8
Features: 8
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 8
New or Used: New
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I purchased my K-50 in December 2014 and used it as my primary camera until December 2015, when I was able to upgrade to the K-3. The K-50 is my first DSLR - I jumped to the K-50 after several point-and-shoot and bridge cameras previously. I bought the K-50 with the two kit lenses.
The K-50 is an amazing value, especially today with the lower prices; I don't know of another DSLR that covers its range of features and image quality at this price-point. To begin with, I started using the K-50 in 'green' mode, but quickly was able to learn to move to its more accessible manual modes. I learned about ISO, aperture, and shutter speed on this camera - all of its features are so accessible.
Ergonomically, it is a well-thought-out camera. The grip is solid and stable, buttons are well-marked, and while the user interface may not always be intuitive, with help of the manual and the available e-book (definitely worthwhile), I was able to drill down to the features I wanted to use. The bright optical viewfinder is so much better than an EVF - there is no comparison.
This camera is responsible for the beginnings of my LBA and I was able to use every single lens I bought on the K-50, from the K300 and M 50, to the DA 18-135mm. Every lens delivered amazing shots through the K-50.
I keep my K-50 as a backup now (to my K-3) and would not think of parting with it. In the year I used it, I shot over 20,000 pictures without a mechanical/electrical problem at all, and any shots I did not keep were due to the shortcomings of the loose nut behind the viewfinder.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2012 Location: Catalonia Posts: 441 | | Review Date: October 29, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $255.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | All except 2 cons | | Cons: | Video codec!! and a litle AF | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: Used
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Pentax sells this camera like an entry camera, but... it's so amazing, i can't buy another camera because the quality gain for me is negligible. Only i'm waiting pentax put a decent video codec in kS2 and will be a perfect camera for me.  | | | | | Closed Account Registered: February, 2014 Location: Sumner, WA Posts: 965 | | Review Date: November 29, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $899.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | focus peaking, comfort in the hand, ease of use | | Cons: | loud shutter, no grip, battery life using LV | | Years Owned: 9 months
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 7
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 7
New or Used: New
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Have been very pleased with the K-50, having put 15k+ shots in it over the past 9 months. Is my first DSLR, though I have shot with a Nikon D5100, and a Canon 7D. Build quality on the K-50 smokes the D5100, and feels just as solid as the considerably more expensive 7D. I will say that the K-50's AF is definitely in a lower class than the 7D, but it hasn't been nearly as bad as so many people have made it seem to be. All modern DSLR's are capable of taking great shots, and the K-50 is no different. The real clincher for me is Focus Peaking. Checked it out when I first started learning the K-50, didn't give it a second thought, but revisited the feature towards the end of the summer, when I was really in full swing with macro flower shooting. In short -- what was I thinking?!?! It's a fantastic feature, definitely a must have if you do macro work with MF. Super-easy to use, and it allows me to control the focus plane with little effort. As tempting as it is to "step up" to a K-5iis (they are practically giving them away right now) the K-5iis lacks Focus Peaking -- so it's a no go, regardless of how great the pricing is.
K-50 feels good in my hand, looks stylish (white/black) and has the excellent Pentax ergonomics (twin wheels, comfortable grip). Since I started using LV a lot more (Focus peaking) I have definitely noticed the shorter lifespan on the battery, but 3rd party units are cheap, so no big deal. I listed the lack of grip as a negative, and it is for me. I didn't do my research well enough been I bought the K-50 (new to photography, and DSLR's, specifically) and didn't realize the option wasn't there -- so no fault of the K-50, just poor research on my part. I have actually fashioned a grip from an old Nikon D60, and while I don't have the actual usage features, I do get the added support for my larger hands, so it definitely sees some use. I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be disappointed to the lack of a top LCD, and I was right, having pretty easily trained my eye to just look in the bottom of the VF for settings. I did have a couple of lockups early on (where I had to pop the battery to get things going again), but I haven't had it happen in the past 6 months, so not sure what caused it. Shutter is indeed noisy when compared to my buddy's K-5 (and the 7D), but it's not a problem for the shooting I do. I would say that even in a church wedding, teh ambient noise would drown it out, so it's a non-issue to me.
I think the K-50 is a fantastic first DSLR for anybody, and a significant upgrade to folks using older Pentax models. The current pricing (sub $400) + the overall feature set makes it an excellent purchase, and while I may "graduate" to a K-3 (or whatever) someday, I'm pretty sure this K-50 will be staying in the family a long time.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2014 Posts: 138
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 15, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $430.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image Quality and high ISO, viewfinder, AA batteries, WR, 6fps | | Cons: | somewhat noisy | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 9
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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My Nikon D3100 camera got stolen after about 3 months of usage. I used the oportunnity to upgrade as-well but what an upgrade!!! I got K-50 white, new for 430 euros which is quite the minimum you can get it at right now and it's amazing in features.
One of the things I hugely appreciate about it are:
- image quality is very good and I can go up to 3200 ISO in certain situations without ending up with ugly noised photos
- 100% coverage, bright viewfinder
- batteries!! you can use normal AA batteries when you cannot find a plug to charge its own battery
- two control dials
- weather resistant
- 6fps. Action time!
...
100% coverage, batteries, WR and 2xdials shouldn't be available at this price according to other manufacturers. Still, not only that you get this out of it but the quality if not compromised at all.
Things I don't like:
- noisy AF motor
- the position of the rotary dial on the back should have been 1cm to the right where the finger rests
These are minor details that I easily got used to.
I only had that Nikon before so I am not the most knowledgeable person but one can easily look at the market, see what features and quality they offer and conclude that there is not actual competition for this camera in this price range. Its competition is somewhere around 800$.
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