[Ash]

Martin, was that Pentax price you mentioned above for the K-5 new? If so, that inflated D7000 price is rather odd indeed.

[MartinEA]

Yep that is how it is in the UK. The price for the K5 also includes a free 8 gb SD card as well.

[Ash]

Between those two cameras in the UK, it's a no-brainer.
But on the K-5, the LED AF-assist does make a difference in the dark, but my gripe is that unfortunately with an external P-TTL flash mounted, AF is crippled by the slow and very ordinary AF spotbeam on the flash unit. I've mentioned it a couple of times to Pentax but nothing yet has been said or done about it.

[garyk]

I have the 7D and the K-5. I agree with you on the colors. I absolutely love the Pentax for colors. I do not know what it is but they are warmer and just beautiful. Back to AF. I do not have the 5DMark 11. But I am surprised you are having trouble with it. I would STRONGLY suggest you rent or borrow a K-5 and lens you plan to use and try it in the situation you will be shooting.

[ozlizard]

I will be shooting a wedding on the 19th November. Using the K5 with Sigma 10-20 and DA 50-135. Kr as back up body. Was thinking of using mostly ISO 200. Daytime wedding so no problems with light, or is it better to stick with an ISO as low as possible to take advantage of the DR?

[Ash]

You might find at ISO 80 the shutter speed may just not be fast enough to ensure a sharp shot. Sharpness over low ISO any day, especially on the K-5 and K-r.
It'll be all about getting your lighting, and desired effects right in camera.
Enjoy the day, mate.

[ozlizard]

Thanks Ash, twas what I was thinking. Looking forward to it.

[philbaum]

I love the DR on the K-5 for weddings. It makes it almost impossible to be off on exposure. My K20D is a little less forgiving, but, still a joy to use when on.

However, I'm growing increasingly frustrated with slow AF. Every reception, there are times where I'll try to get shots of people on a dance floor who pose for a "quick" pic, which ends up taking 3-5 seconds to focus! This is with the K-5, not just K20D. It is absolutely frustrating when it happens, not to mention embarrassing. When people are dancing (and have had a few drinks) it's incredibly hard to wait so long to get focus locked on.

Needless to say, I'm considering a switch to Canon or Nikon. I'm waiting for the next generation of bodies, because I don't see the point in switching systems at the end of a current generation.

I was at an opening night celebration and before that at another indoor event, same thing happened. I normally use the AF button, but one can't do that so well for that kind of environment so i was using the half shutter AF. The FA50 was horrible at it, the DA21 was faster. I'm wondering if its some setting i'm using, this can't be a general problem, or is it. No kidding, i had my finger on the shutter for about that same length of time - and it was embarassing, nothing happened until it finally snapped. Again, it doesn't happen for my normal shooting mode, but just those 2 times. (k20 at the time)

[kenyee]

The FA50 was horrible at it, the DA21 was faster

It's because at the max aperture (2.8 for DA21, 1.4 for FA50), the DA21 provides more contrast to the AF points. The FA50 is relatively less contrasty wide open at 1.4, especially in low light.

Use AF-C w/ the AF button to focus. At least you'll be able to trip the shutter when you get close...Canikon cameras sometimes give a false "lock" reading in low light and let you trip the shutter when they're not locked on your actual target too, so it's a bit hard to compare with them unless you see the final results..

[Frogfish]

I think that finding focus in low light depends just as much on your lenses as your camera, if not more. Yesterday I was at a wedding (just as a guest) and used the K5 with Sigma 30/1.4 and 50-150/2.8 for all shots bar two. I have my focus assist switched off as I find it distracts subjects. The wedding was outside and it was overcast (I haven't processed the couple's shots yet), dinner was inside this very old, and dark, house/hotel and then it was back outside to the garden for the dancing to a live band. I have to say that I had virtually no problem at all finding focus - except in the near darkness of the garden late on, and even then the 30/1.4 didn't have much problem. Almost all shots taken were at f1.6 to f2.8.





No flash.


No flash.






The only shot of the ceremony I've processed so far but I know a lot more have this clarify - zero NR applied.

[ozlizard]

Nice shots frogfish, what ISO were you using?

[sterretje]

Nice shots frogfish, what ISO were you using?

Install an exif viewer for your browser and you can find out for most of them Or download them and check with your PP or viewer software

[Frogfish]

Nice shots frogfish, what ISO were you using?

Thanks OL. In order (note I usually use the K5 in TAv mode) : 2,500 / 1,600 / 3,200 / 800 / 200 / 200 / 2,500.

[Frogfish]

Install an exif viewer for your browser and you can find out for most of them Or download them and check with your PP or viewer software

Or most can be checked on the SmugMug site

[MartinEA]

Well I have decided against getting one for my wedding work at present. However, the price of a new K5 is now just £649 as it has a cash back offer on it at present. I am intrigued by this camera. I did go to my local shop and try it out and have pics at home etc. Now when I go out I really don't want to becarrying a 5D Mk 2 and a 24-70 lens on so I am going to buy a K5 and one primeas my enjoyment for the sake of taking photographs camera.

Will let you know how it goes.