Just joined the K-5 club

sebberry · 06-01-2011, 02:27 PM

Yep, I did it. Even if I do find that the body has been designed by someone with much, much smaller hands than I and that rubber doors belong on $200 P&S cameras, I was attracted to the capabilities of it over my K10D.

Just waiting for my battery to charge up (would have been nice if they carried the same battery over from the K10D/K20D) and then I'll get to play with it!

**Fries** · 06-01-2011, 02:31 PM

Welcome to the club. If you like your camera's a bit bigger adding a battery grip to the K-5 does help!

sebberry · 06-01-2011, 02:42 PM

Thanks. It's more the width that is the issue. Ergonomics of the K10D was much better, IMO.

**eaglem** · 06-01-2011, 03:35 PM

Having the K20D then going to the K-5 I found the camera smaller as well but soon got used to it and in now fits comfortably in my hands.

BTW Welcome to the K-5 family!

**Ash** · 06-01-2011, 04:23 PM

Good move.
I agree that the K20D had great ergonomics, but it didn't take long for my hands to fit snug onto the K-5. Enjoy the camera.

sebberry · 06-01-2011, 06:51 PM

My nose hits the pop-up flash. How did I miss that one in the store trying it out?

legacyb4 · 06-01-2011, 07:13 PM

I found it odd feeling for the first bit but quickly adjusted to how much slimmer it feels than the K20D which balances out well with how much lighter it feels.

sebberry · 06-01-2011, 10:57 PM

Ok, so in portrait orientation the bridge of my nose hits the built in pop-up flash, and in landscape orientation my forehead bangs into the AF540FGZ.

In 2007 when I got my K10D, I originally went to the store looking for a Canon. It was the ergonomics of the K10D that instantly sold me on Pentax. I hate to say it, but if the K10D was as awkward and fiddly as the K-5, I probably would have bought the Canon I initially went to look at.

I'm sure the K-5 will be a great camera and certainly do things better than the K10D (especially low light), but I still think it was a mistake for Pentax to go with a smaller body.

**Ash** · 06-01-2011, 11:41 PM

You might find adding the O-ME53 viewfinder magnifier will give you just enough space to make it more comfortable to shoot through the viewfinder, and not have to mash your face into the back of the camera just to frame your shot well.

sebberry · 06-01-2011, 11:46 PM

Hmm, thanks. Might have to add that to the list

sebberry · 06-03-2011, 02:49 PM

What I do like so far over my K10D:

Faster focus, even with the SDM lens
Seemly better exposure
Better dynamic range (was shooting swans earlier and I found it easier to get the details in their feathers)

Fast FPS is great for catching ducks landing on the water. Too bad they only did it when I wasn't looking

Quiet shutter. All the ducks/swans swam away from the guy with the big Canon over to me, maybe his shutter was too loud

Ergonomically the size sucks and I don't like that I have to press and hold the OK button to switch between AF point selection and WB, etc... but I suppose that's the tradeoff for a lighter body.

JeffJS · 06-03-2011, 02:55 PM

Welcome to the club!! Ash already pointed you to the eye piece. It helps quite a bit, expecially if you're the type that presses the face against the camera to look through the viewfinder. If the camera size is bothering you, add the grip. IMO, Perfect size with the grip (and I hated the grip on the K10/20).

asdf · 06-03-2011, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by sebberry

What I do like so far over my K10D:

Faster focus, even with the SDM lens
Seemly better exposure
Better dynamic range (was shooting swans earlier and I found it easier to get the details in their feathers)

Fast FPS is great for catching ducks landing on the water. Too bad they only did it when I wasn't looking

Quiet shutter. All the ducks/swans swam away from the guy with the big Canon over to me, maybe his shutter was too loud

Ergonomically the size sucks and I don't like that I have to press and hold the OK button to switch between AF point selection and WB, etc... but I suppose that's the tradeoff for a lighter body.

K10D/K20D's grip was smaller and less comfortable in terms of depth. If you want a taller grip, you can add the bottom grip attachment.

CDW · 06-03-2011, 06:12 PM

Likewise, also a 'rejoined' club member here. I shot Pentax 645 and 67 film bodies for years, then when digital rolled along I switched back to Canon. But wanting something more akin to the look I achieved with medium and large format film, (without retreating to film) after spending some time using a friends 645D, I decided to sell my Canon system, bite the bullet and order a 645D and a K-5. My thought was to use the K-5 as my 'go to' body for more casual work and use the 645D primarily for landscapes and nature.

Well, the K-5 arrived yesterday and my 16-45 F4 today. I just went out and did a few test shots, downloaded them in Light Room. I have to say, I'm stunned. The colors and saturation are dead on. No saturation increase, no tweaking other than some level adjustments and very minor sharpening. I purposely underexposed about a half stop or so to improve shadow detail.

The results are better than I dared hope. I won't miss my 5D2 at all! Here are few decidedly none-art shots taken in my yard with afternoon sun. I can hardly wait for the 645D to arrive. I think I'll have a real Dynamic Duo.

06-01-2011, 02:27 PM	#1
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135	Just joined the K-5 club Yep, I did it. Even if I do find that the body has been designed by someone with much, much smaller hands than I and that rubber doors belong on $200 P&S cameras, I was attracted to the capabilities of it over my K10D. Just waiting for my battery to charge up (would have been nice if they carried the same battery over from the K10D/K20D) and then I'll get to play with it!

06-03-2011, 06:12 PM	#14
CDW Site Supporter Join Date: May 2011 Location: Big Island, Hawaii & Utah Posts: 457	Likewise, also a 'rejoined' club member here. I shot Pentax 645 and 67 film bodies for years, then when digital rolled along I switched back to Canon. But wanting something more akin to the look I achieved with medium and large format film, (without retreating to film) after spending some time using a friends 645D, I decided to sell my Canon system, bite the bullet and order a 645D and a K-5. My thought was to use the K-5 as my 'go to' body for more casual work and use the 645D primarily for landscapes and nature. Well, the K-5 arrived yesterday and my 16-45 F4 today. I just went out and did a few test shots, downloaded them in Light Room. I have to say, I'm stunned. The colors and saturation are dead on. No saturation increase, no tweaking other than some level adjustments and very minor sharpening. I purposely underexposed about a half stop or so to improve shadow detail. The results are better than I dared hope. I won't miss my 5D2 at all! Here are few decidedly none-art shots taken in my yard with afternoon sun. I can hardly wait for the 645D to arrive. I think I'll have a real Dynamic Duo. Attached Images

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06-01-2011, 02:31 PM	#2
Fries Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gauw Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,582	Welcome to the club. If you like your camera's a bit bigger adding a battery grip to the K-5 does help!

06-01-2011, 02:42 PM	#3
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	Thanks. It's more the width that is the issue. Ergonomics of the K10D was much better, IMO.

06-01-2011, 03:35 PM	#4
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,145	Having the K20D then going to the K-5 I found the camera smaller as well but soon got used to it and in now fits comfortably in my hands. BTW Welcome to the K-5 family!

06-01-2011, 04:23 PM	#5
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Good move. I agree that the K20D had great ergonomics, but it didn't take long for my hands to fit snug onto the K-5. Enjoy the camera.

06-01-2011, 06:51 PM	#6
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	My nose hits the pop-up flash. How did I miss that one in the store trying it out?

06-01-2011, 07:13 PM	#7
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	I found it odd feeling for the first bit but quickly adjusted to how much slimmer it feels than the K20D which balances out well with how much lighter it feels.

06-01-2011, 10:57 PM	#8
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	Ok, so in portrait orientation the bridge of my nose hits the built in pop-up flash, and in landscape orientation my forehead bangs into the AF540FGZ. In 2007 when I got my K10D, I originally went to the store looking for a Canon. It was the ergonomics of the K10D that instantly sold me on Pentax. I hate to say it, but if the K10D was as awkward and fiddly as the K-5, I probably would have bought the Canon I initially went to look at. I'm sure the K-5 will be a great camera and certainly do things better than the K10D (especially low light), but I still think it was a mistake for Pentax to go with a smaller body.

06-01-2011, 11:41 PM	#9
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	You might find adding the O-ME53 viewfinder magnifier will give you just enough space to make it more comfortable to shoot through the viewfinder, and not have to mash your face into the back of the camera just to frame your shot well.

06-01-2011, 11:46 PM	#10
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	Hmm, thanks. Might have to add that to the list

06-03-2011, 02:49 PM	#11
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	What I do like so far over my K10D: Faster focus, even with the SDM lens Seemly better exposure Better dynamic range (was shooting swans earlier and I found it easier to get the details in their feathers) Fast FPS is great for catching ducks landing on the water. Too bad they only did it when I wasn't looking Quiet shutter. All the ducks/swans swam away from the guy with the big Canon over to me, maybe his shutter was too loud Ergonomically the size sucks and I don't like that I have to press and hold the OK button to switch between AF point selection and WB, etc... but I suppose that's the tradeoff for a lighter body.

06-03-2011, 02:55 PM	#12
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Welcome to the club!! Ash already pointed you to the eye piece. It helps quite a bit, expecially if you're the type that presses the face against the camera to look through the viewfinder. If the camera size is bothering you, add the grip. IMO, Perfect size with the grip (and I hated the grip on the K10/20).

06-03-2011, 03:00 PM	#13
asdf Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 1,252	Originally posted by sebberry What I do like so far over my K10D: Faster focus, even with the SDM lens Seemly better exposure Better dynamic range (was shooting swans earlier and I found it easier to get the details in their feathers) Fast FPS is great for catching ducks landing on the water. Too bad they only did it when I wasn't looking Quiet shutter. All the ducks/swans swam away from the guy with the big Canon over to me, maybe his shutter was too loud Ergonomically the size sucks and I don't like that I have to press and hold the OK button to switch between AF point selection and WB, etc... but I suppose that's the tradeoff for a lighter body. K10D/K20D's grip was smaller and less comfortable in terms of depth. If you want a taller grip, you can add the bottom grip attachment.