K5 Viewfinder Question

Jewelltrail · 11-08-2010, 11:04 PM

It is great Pentax finally occupies a King of the Hill position with cameras--long time coming if you ask me. The ISO performance & DR output of the K5 would have been unbelievable when I bought my K20d, only 2.5 years ago. But my question for this thread revolves around the viewfinder.

I have read that the APS-c viewfinder, theoretically, could be made as good as one in a fF camera, but expense and demand have worked together, thus far, to stop that from happening. But for me, and I know for others too, it is the splendid viewfinder of FF which makes me want to own one.

For those of you who have a K5, and have used a K20, can you comment on the differences between each camera's viewfinder? My gut is the K5 is little improved over the K20, which, for APS-c, is actually excellent--but I am hoping for more in a viewfinder in APS-c. Thanks in advance.

**A Modest Mouse** · 11-08-2010, 11:32 PM

It's the same OVF found in the K-7; which gives full 100% frame coverage and is essentially as good as you're going to see in an APS-C design. The advantage to FF OVF's are size (and therefore clarity for MF) and a more obvious in-focus impact inherent with thinner DOF wide-open on FF designs.

Jewelltrail · 11-09-2010, 12:08 AM

Modest Mouse: You have confirmed my gut feelings--thanks--I thinkt he K20d has %98 coverage--no step up from k7

Yes, I understand the advantage FF offers in a viewfinder. I have read though, that APS-c viewfinders could be made as good---it would be expensive, but then the K5 is already getting up there. How much more would it cost to put an excellent viewfinder in the next Pentax body?

On a better note, I hear the Live View is very good on the K5. On the K20, it isn't something to write home about. So, it might be possible for more accurate manual focusing via the K5s Live View.

creampuff · 11-09-2010, 01:56 AM

If you shoot close-ups and macro or require precise composition in-camera (especially at the edges of the frame), there is no substitute for a 100% viewfinder coverage offered by the K-5/K-7.
The K-20D/K10D has a field of view of 95% and trust me, that difference in viewfinder coverage does have a difference.

Jewelltrail · 11-09-2010, 10:10 AM

Quote:

creampuff If you shoot close-ups and macro or require precise composition in-camera (especially at the edges of the frame), there is no substitute for a 100% viewfinder coverage offered by the K-5/K-7.
The K-20D/K10D has a field of view of 95% and trust me, that difference in viewfinder coverage does have a difference.

I appreciuate the help, frrm both of you guys.

I do not doubt there is a viewfinder difference between the K20d and K5 which is appreciable, and I do lots of macro work. However, the difference, for me, is unfortunately not enough. My eyes are far from what they used to be, and I now use a 1.3 eyepiece magnifer and split prism. I would employ these tools with the K5, which would take the edges out of the viewfinder.

My hopes for the K5 were that it would improve upon the K7, via some of the new technology which is making manual focusing more precise these days in other cameras. I think we may be 2 or 3 years away from a specialized EVF, perhaps one which works with a viewfinder, & one which makes manual focusuing a joy again. I know there is a market for this. High ISO and DR are very important, but compositon & focsing are elementary.

simico · 11-10-2010, 05:18 AM

Originally posted by Jewelltrail

I now use a 1.3 eyepiece magnifer and split prism. I would employ these tools with the K5

I'm using the O-ME53 magnifier on the K-5 and can see the entire frame, although I have to move my eyes a bit if I want to read the status bar on the bottom. With the magnifier I have a 100% coverage and 1.1 magnification FF-sized viewfinder

kryss · 11-10-2010, 05:36 AM

Originally posted by simico

I'm using the O-ME53 magnifier on the K-5 and can see the entire frame, although I have to move my eyes a bit if I want to read the status bar on the bottom. With the magnifier I have a 100% coverage and 1.1 magnification FF-sized viewfinder

Hi,what is the O-M53 magnifier and where would one obtain one of these? thanks.

simico · 11-10-2010, 06:02 AM

Originally posted by kryss

Hi,what is the O-M53 magnifier and where would one obtain one of these? thanks.

You can get it here for example. I'm sure Google can give you more shops and info

yipchunyu · 11-10-2010, 06:04 AM

I heard that k7/k5 can achieved 100% coverage because of the SR function. Anyone can provide more info on this?

Wheatfield · 11-10-2010, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by yipchunyu

I heard that k7/k5 can achieved 100% coverage because of the SR function. Anyone can provide more info on this?

Well, it stands to reason that with the sensor moving around, you are going to miss 100% viewfinder, but then, with sensor based SR, you aren't taking the same picture as what you are seeing no matter what the viewfinder coverage is.
With SR off and the camera on a tripod, it is as close to 100% as I can tell.
This kind of stuff is a tempest in a teapot.

11-08-2010, 11:04 PM	#1
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	K5 Viewfinder Question It is great Pentax finally occupies a King of the Hill position with cameras--long time coming if you ask me. The ISO performance & DR output of the K5 would have been unbelievable when I bought my K20d, only 2.5 years ago. But my question for this thread revolves around the viewfinder. I have read that the APS-c viewfinder, theoretically, could be made as good as one in a fF camera, but expense and demand have worked together, thus far, to stop that from happening. But for me, and I know for others too, it is the splendid viewfinder of FF which makes me want to own one. For those of you who have a K5, and have used a K20, can you comment on the differences between each camera's viewfinder? My gut is the K5 is little improved over the K20, which, for APS-c, is actually excellent--but I am hoping for more in a viewfinder in APS-c. Thanks in advance.

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11-08-2010, 11:32 PM	#2
A Modest Mouse Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Facebook - See ya there. Posts: 248	It's the same OVF found in the K-7; which gives full 100% frame coverage and is essentially as good as you're going to see in an APS-C design. The advantage to FF OVF's are size (and therefore clarity for MF) and a more obvious in-focus impact inherent with thinner DOF wide-open on FF designs.

11-09-2010, 12:08 AM	#3
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180 Original Poster	Modest Mouse: You have confirmed my gut feelings--thanks--I thinkt he K20d has %98 coverage--no step up from k7 Yes, I understand the advantage FF offers in a viewfinder. I have read though, that APS-c viewfinders could be made as good---it would be expensive, but then the K5 is already getting up there. How much more would it cost to put an excellent viewfinder in the next Pentax body? On a better note, I hear the Live View is very good on the K5. On the K20, it isn't something to write home about. So, it might be possible for more accurate manual focusing via the K5s Live View.

11-09-2010, 01:56 AM	#4
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	If you shoot close-ups and macro or require precise composition in-camera (especially at the edges of the frame), there is no substitute for a 100% viewfinder coverage offered by the K-5/K-7. The K-20D/K10D has a field of view of 95% and trust me, that difference in viewfinder coverage does have a difference.

11-09-2010, 10:10 AM	#5
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180 Original Poster	Quote: creampuff If you shoot close-ups and macro or require precise composition in-camera (especially at the edges of the frame), there is no substitute for a 100% viewfinder coverage offered by the K-5/K-7. The K-20D/K10D has a field of view of 95% and trust me, that difference in viewfinder coverage does have a difference. I appreciuate the help, frrm both of you guys. I do not doubt there is a viewfinder difference between the K20d and K5 which is appreciable, and I do lots of macro work. However, the difference, for me, is unfortunately not enough. My eyes are far from what they used to be, and I now use a 1.3 eyepiece magnifer and split prism. I would employ these tools with the K5, which would take the edges out of the viewfinder. My hopes for the K5 were that it would improve upon the K7, via some of the new technology which is making manual focusing more precise these days in other cameras. I think we may be 2 or 3 years away from a specialized EVF, perhaps one which works with a viewfinder, & one which makes manual focusuing a joy again. I know there is a market for this. High ISO and DR are very important, but compositon & focsing are elementary.

11-10-2010, 05:18 AM	#6
simico Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Budapest Posts: 821	Originally posted by Jewelltrail I now use a 1.3 eyepiece magnifer and split prism. I would employ these tools with the K5 I'm using the O-ME53 magnifier on the K-5 and can see the entire frame, although I have to move my eyes a bit if I want to read the status bar on the bottom. With the magnifier I have a 100% coverage and 1.1 magnification FF-sized viewfinder

11-10-2010, 05:36 AM	#7
kryss Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Alberta Posts: 218	Originally posted by simico I'm using the O-ME53 magnifier on the K-5 and can see the entire frame, although I have to move my eyes a bit if I want to read the status bar on the bottom. With the magnifier I have a 100% coverage and 1.1 magnification FF-sized viewfinder Hi,what is the O-M53 magnifier and where would one obtain one of these? thanks.

11-10-2010, 06:02 AM	#8
simico Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Budapest Posts: 821	Originally posted by kryss Hi,what is the O-M53 magnifier and where would one obtain one of these? thanks. You can get it here for example. I'm sure Google can give you more shops and info

11-10-2010, 06:04 AM	#9
yipchunyu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: HK Posts: 171	I heard that k7/k5 can achieved 100% coverage because of the SR function. Anyone can provide more info on this?

11-10-2010, 08:32 AM	#10
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by yipchunyu I heard that k7/k5 can achieved 100% coverage because of the SR function. Anyone can provide more info on this? Well, it stands to reason that with the sensor moving around, you are going to miss 100% viewfinder, but then, with sensor based SR, you aren't taking the same picture as what you are seeing no matter what the viewfinder coverage is. With SR off and the camera on a tripod, it is as close to 100% as I can tell. This kind of stuff is a tempest in a teapot.