[awolfe98]

I live in a location where I can not get my hands on an actual K5 in the store - so I've been limited to looking at pictures and dimensions online.

I have a K20D - works fine - can reach all the controls without undue hand contortions.
I also have a K200D (well, had, sold it two days ago) - a bit small - sort of have to hold it with my finger tips a bit, but I can manage.

For reference - I'm 6'6" - hand span from thumb to pinky is about 10.25" - so I would appreciate feedback from anyone similarly sized.

My main concern is that a K-5 is going to wind up being too small to comfortably operate. I understand the the layout is different than the K20D - and it looks like the grip may take your fingers a little farther out forward? Having a pinky curl underneath is fine as well.

Any input? Even observations among relative grip feel difference between K20D and K5? My fear here is that I'm going to have to abandon Pentax and go get a D7000 or something a little chunkier. I'm one of the few people that *likes* a bigger camera I think!

Thanks!

[blockamon]

Actually, I'm also a fan of large cameras. I can't stand "pinky curl" and won't use a camera without a vertical grip.

Can't comment on the button position, since my hands aren't that large. However, I'd recommend that you seriously consider the battery grip.

[hcc]

Dpreview presented a comparison between the K-7 and K20D bodies. Since the K-5 has the same body as the K-7, the comparison may be of interest:
*************/reviews/pentaxk7/page4.asp (add the www & dpreview & com in front)

The grip is however a nice option for large hands & heavy lenses.

[Pentaxeros]

Aqui comente algo sobre le tamaño comparado con la k20d en mi foro:
Diferencias entre una camara de iniciación y una camara avanzada semi-pro

Y una imagen:


Saludos...

[melander]

K-7 is in the middle, k-5 is the same body so easy to compare

[a a i b]

I have big hands as well. For me, this is how it breaks down.

The K10/20 were fine. The K7/5 are really a bit on the small side for real comfort (that pinky curling under the body is annoying); however, the design compensates a bit for the smaller size by having a bigger and better grip.

I often go back and forth between a Canon 5D and the K5. I much prefer the 5D in hand, but for me, the smaller size of the K5 has real advantages in portability and discreteness, especially with Pentax's compact lenses.

[awolfe98]

Thanks for the input.

Would it be fair to say that while the size is very similar to the K200d - but that the deeper (front to back) grip and button layout compensates a tiny bit for that?

I could probably live with that - I've been doing the "system change" spreadsheet to see if I sold everything I went to a D7000 and repurchased the lenses where I would be. The loss of the 50-135 would kill me (and looking like Tokina has discontinued for other mounts) - as would lack of something comparable to the 15mm limited.

I do primarily landscapes and extended trips outdoors, and the dynamic range of K-5 has me drooling on the floor, as well as the solid body and sealing that brought me over from Nikon film bodies anyway.

Still trying to do the size rationalization dance!

[ozlizard]

I am in the same boat, have a K20 and love it's size and I too am worried about the K5 being too small. I really want the K5 for landscapes as that DR has me drooling as well so I will definately get it with the grip.

[grey goat]

I went with the K-7 earlier this year largely (pun intended) because it's so compact compared to a D300.

My guess is that you wouldn't like the size of the K-5 on its own, but if you added the battery grip, you'd do fine with it.

The K-5 and K-7 are great outdoors, and the DR of the K-5 . . . well, I haven't started drooling yet, but that's only because I know it wouldn't do me much good.

But it'd sure be good if you could actually hold a K-5 (or a K-7)--alone, and with the battery grip. That grip will make a difference, I'm sure.

(If you go with Nikon . . . well, I've got some manual lenses I can sell you! I switched to Pentax despite having a pretty decent collection of Nikkors, and still haven't sold them all. . . .)

[kevinschoenmakers]

I'm also about 6'6", no idea about my hands though. Anyway, the grip on my K10D is taller than the one on my K-5, but also not as deep. In the end I wouldn't say one has a better grip than the other. The K100D (I take it has it has the same grip as the K200D) has both a shallower and lower grip, so doesn't compare to the K-5.

I've never experienced the K-5's grip as too small for me.

[m8o]

I liked the feel of the K10D better, not only for its native size, sans vertical grip, but button placement as well. But once I put the vertical grip on the K-5, it feels much better in my big oven mitts; akin to the K10D w/o the grip.

[Osama Binhidin]

I have large hands have k7 and k5 and grip I only put the grip on if it is needed for lot of vertical or extra battery. I much prefer it without the grip unless i am hand holding a bigma, its sits nicely in my fingers just balanced there hanging while I walk even with a 50-135 on it P.S the avatar is me poling a 20 kilo bluefin tuna of rocky island SA Australia 1980 at dawn.

[awolfe98]

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a K-5. Got to love Amazon. It will be here tomorrow. I'll see what it feels like then! I'm encouraged by the 50-135 comment.

[awolfe98]

Observation after 48 hours - while I would like another 1/2 inch here and there - I find all the control placements perfectly usable. It'll certainly work out just fine!

[elho_cid]

I'm about the same heigth and have large hands as well. I had a chance to try out the K-7 before buying K-5 and I preferred it's egonomics over K10D. Deeper grip is an improvement.