Popular Photography Full Test Results For The K-5.

boosted03gti · 02-19-2011, 06:34 PM

Ok, last test results. just got the latest issue in the mail. results look great and they gave it 4 and a half stars. af is still a tad slower then the canon and nikons but not bad at all.
for reference, ev 6 is like a well lit kitchen, ev 0 is moon light dark. glad pop photo gave some sort of examples to reference the ev levels..
s

vs
Canon 60d

vs
Nikon D7000

Last edited by boosted03gti; 02-19-2011 at 06:45 PM.

Rupert · 02-19-2011, 07:19 PM

I read that entire test in the latest issue and it was indeed a good report on the K5. I also noted that they did not report any FF issues, which is surprising since they did note that with the D7000 on its test last month. Could it be they got a "Good" K5 and a "Bad" D7000? Could these problems with both cameras be just random? The tests pose more questions than answers for both cameras based on what we read on various Forums.
Based solely on Pop Photo's test results, I would have to give the edge to the K5 for the better features, and for me there are more than a few that make it better. Part of that is lost in the pricing, but if you want the features of the K5 over the D7000, it might be worth it in the long run. If they were priced the same, or very close, I don't think the D7000 would appeal to anyone over the K5 except Nikon enthusiasts with a large collection of Nikon glass.
All just my opinion, of course....for what it is worth?
Best Regards!

Smeggypants · 02-19-2011, 07:19 PM

Meaningless!!

This is where it's at

Christine Tham · 02-19-2011, 08:00 PM

It's interesting that we have quite a few reviews now and none of them have raised the issue of FF in low light conditions.

The K-5 even wins the battle against it's peers and the comment was the AF was "speedy even in low light situations":
Battle of the Flagships: Olympus E-5, Pentax K5, Canon 7D, Nikon D300s: Which is Better? at The Phoblographer

The detailed review even comments on the reviewer spending a whole day a wedding shooting in low light conditions without a single misfocused picture:
Field Review: The Pentax K-5 (Day 3) at The Phoblographer

I must admit, I haven't seen a single instance of my K-5 FF in real life low light conditions either - apart from running jolepp's three batteries test which does show a few mm of FF at around EV 1.

Obviously some people have had problems, and judging by the photos they have posted, quite severe problems.

Wonder what the issue could be - it certainly does not seem to be affecting *all* units, or maybe reviewers get a specially hand selected unit that's free of defects? :-)

tarsus · 02-19-2011, 08:13 PM

Has Pop Photo lost its mind or am I missing something? The K5 gets a 26.7 unacceptable ISO 6400 rating while the Canon 60D gets a 3.4 and the Nikon D7000 gets a 4.4. This would mean that Pentax has managed to create the noisiest digital camera in history. In the same issue, the Panasonic GH2 gets an ISO 6400 rating of 11.6. I know for a fact that the K5 beats the GH2. What gives?

**GregK8** · 02-19-2011, 08:30 PM

I think there is a typo there. 1600, 3200 and 6400 are listed twice. Those last three should be 12800, 25600 and 51200

Rupert · 02-19-2011, 08:45 PM

Yes, most definitely a typo. These guys get pretty sloppy sometimes. Regardless, I have seen some very nicely done 6400 K5 shots...and even 12,800 that were fully usable, at least they would be for me.
Regards

tarsus · 02-19-2011, 09:37 PM

I did miss the double mistake. My error and Pop Photos. I'm still not buying their figures.

FullertonImages · 02-19-2011, 10:30 PM

I think they are on crack. And I know that they test on jpeg, and that they give a caveat of how light-handed the Pentax NR is. But still. The K-5 is a phenomenal ISO performer. Plus, I think they need a new system if 26.7 to 3.4 all constitutes unacceptable, but 3.4 to 1.2 encapsulates all of unacceptable to excellent. Seems to me like there some room for redistribution.

30v iPentax · 02-20-2011, 12:47 AM

Mitä nämä nikon ja canon tässä K-5 panalla tekee. Ostaa sellaiset eikä sekota niitä tänne Pentax K-5 forums.

lsucadien · 02-20-2011, 09:28 PM

Hm, silly typos.

sandilands · 02-23-2011, 08:21 PM

Pop Photo placed the K5 and Oly E5 in the same competitive space, but excluded the D7000 and 60D due to the price difference. Anyone else find this weird? I'm sure Pentax didn't bring the K5 to market to compete with just the E5.

Smeggypants · 02-23-2011, 08:30 PM

Calling 6400 on the K-4 unacceptable is laughable. That test is a joke.

Staffan · 02-23-2011, 11:44 PM

Originally posted by GregK8

I think there is a typo there. 1600, 3200 and 6400 are listed twice. Those last three should be 12800, 25600 and 51200

We have camera testers but where is the testing of the camera testers? It seems that PopUp should rename itself PopDown. It is worthless when they cannot do their job accurately. People not used to this kind of figures even cannot protect themselves from the disinformation because they do not realise that the figures are wrong in any way. To the wastepaper basket with PopDown's review. Get back with a corrected one instead, or disappear from the reviewing business, please!

PentaxPoke · 02-25-2011, 02:53 AM

Originally posted by boosted03gti

af is still a tad slower then the canon and nikons but not bad at all.

A "tad" slower? At EV3, it is 60% slower than the entry-level T2i! Pentax seems to have only improved the AF speed over the K-7 by about 12%

Again, time for SAFOX to be upgraded.

02-19-2011, 06:34 PM	#1
boosted03gti Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: tampa, fl Photos: Gallery Posts: 237	Popular Photography Full Test Results For The K-5. Ok, last test results. just got the latest issue in the mail. results look great and they gave it 4 and a half stars. af is still a tad slower then the canon and nikons but not bad at all. for reference, ev 6 is like a well lit kitchen, ev 0 is moon light dark. glad pop photo gave some sort of examples to reference the ev levels.. s vs Canon 60d vs Nikon D7000 Last edited by boosted03gti; 02-19-2011 at 06:45 PM.

02-23-2011, 11:44 PM	#14
Staffan Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 36	'PopUp' should be called 'PopDown'? Yes! Originally posted by GregK8 I think there is a typo there. 1600, 3200 and 6400 are listed twice. Those last three should be 12800, 25600 and 51200 We have camera testers but where is the testing of the camera testers? It seems that PopUp should rename itself PopDown. It is worthless when they cannot do their job accurately. People not used to this kind of figures even cannot protect themselves from the disinformation because they do not realise that the figures are wrong in any way. To the wastepaper basket with PopDown's review. Get back with a corrected one instead, or disappear from the reviewing business, please!

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02-19-2011, 07:19 PM	#2
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	I read that entire test in the latest issue and it was indeed a good report on the K5. I also noted that they did not report any FF issues, which is surprising since they did note that with the D7000 on its test last month. Could it be they got a "Good" K5 and a "Bad" D7000? Could these problems with both cameras be just random? The tests pose more questions than answers for both cameras based on what we read on various Forums. Based solely on Pop Photo's test results, I would have to give the edge to the K5 for the better features, and for me there are more than a few that make it better. Part of that is lost in the pricing, but if you want the features of the K5 over the D7000, it might be worth it in the long run. If they were priced the same, or very close, I don't think the D7000 would appeal to anyone over the K5 except Nikon enthusiasts with a large collection of Nikon glass. All just my opinion, of course....for what it is worth? Best Regards!

02-19-2011, 07:19 PM	#3
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	Meaningless!! This is where it's at

02-19-2011, 08:00 PM	#4
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269	It's interesting that we have quite a few reviews now and none of them have raised the issue of FF in low light conditions. The K-5 even wins the battle against it's peers and the comment was the AF was "speedy even in low light situations": Battle of the Flagships: Olympus E-5, Pentax K5, Canon 7D, Nikon D300s: Which is Better? at The Phoblographer The detailed review even comments on the reviewer spending a whole day a wedding shooting in low light conditions without a single misfocused picture: Field Review: The Pentax K-5 (Day 3) at The Phoblographer I must admit, I haven't seen a single instance of my K-5 FF in real life low light conditions either - apart from running jolepp's three batteries test which does show a few mm of FF at around EV 1. Obviously some people have had problems, and judging by the photos they have posted, quite severe problems. Wonder what the issue could be - it certainly does not seem to be affecting all units, or maybe reviewers get a specially hand selected unit that's free of defects? :-)

02-19-2011, 08:13 PM	#5
tarsus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mount Shasta Posts: 185	Has Pop Photo lost its mind or am I missing something? The K5 gets a 26.7 unacceptable ISO 6400 rating while the Canon 60D gets a 3.4 and the Nikon D7000 gets a 4.4. This would mean that Pentax has managed to create the noisiest digital camera in history. In the same issue, the Panasonic GH2 gets an ISO 6400 rating of 11.6. I know for a fact that the K5 beats the GH2. What gives?

02-19-2011, 08:30 PM	#6
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	I think there is a typo there. 1600, 3200 and 6400 are listed twice. Those last three should be 12800, 25600 and 51200

02-19-2011, 08:45 PM	#7
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Yes, most definitely a typo. These guys get pretty sloppy sometimes. Regardless, I have seen some very nicely done 6400 K5 shots...and even 12,800 that were fully usable, at least they would be for me. Regards

02-19-2011, 09:37 PM	#8
tarsus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mount Shasta Posts: 185	I did miss the double mistake. My error and Pop Photos. I'm still not buying their figures.

02-19-2011, 10:30 PM	#9
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	I think they are on crack. And I know that they test on jpeg, and that they give a caveat of how light-handed the Pentax NR is. But still. The K-5 is a phenomenal ISO performer. Plus, I think they need a new system if 26.7 to 3.4 all constitutes unacceptable, but 3.4 to 1.2 encapsulates all of unacceptable to excellent. Seems to me like there some room for redistribution.

02-20-2011, 12:47 AM	#10
30v iPentax Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Suomi , Finland Posts: 368	Mitä nämä nikon ja canon tässä K-5 panalla tekee. Ostaa sellaiset eikä sekota niitä tänne Pentax K-5 forums.

02-20-2011, 09:28 PM	#11
lsucadien New Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 18	Hm, silly typos.

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02-23-2011, 08:21 PM	#12
sandilands Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 108	Pop Photo placed the K5 and Oly E5 in the same competitive space, but excluded the D7000 and 60D due to the price difference. Anyone else find this weird? I'm sure Pentax didn't bring the K5 to market to compete with just the E5.

02-23-2011, 08:30 PM	#13
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	Calling 6400 on the K-4 unacceptable is laughable. That test is a joke.

02-25-2011, 02:53 AM	#15
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	Originally posted by boosted03gti af is still a tad slower then the canon and nikons but not bad at all. A "tad" slower? At EV3, it is 60% slower than the entry-level T2i! Pentax seems to have only improved the AF speed over the K-7 by about 12% Again, time for SAFOX to be upgraded.