[tafzal]

Hi,

I have been using K7 for couple of years and after reading good things about K5 I wonder if it is worth upgrading to it. But, like many others, I wonder if we are close to getting a replacement for K5, and if it is worth waiting few months? Any advise/comments from experienced Pentaxians would be most welcome. Thanks.

[westmill]

It depends how you look at it ! Some fantastic bargain K5s out there. You can expect the K5 replacement to be twice the price.

[Adam]

I think now would definitely be a good time. The K-5's IQ isn't going to get worse just because a successor will come out, and chances are that that $300 rebate will be cancelled sooner rather than later, so that once it goes out of production, the remaining new units will be quite expensive.

[Ubuntu_user]

I say buy now. You'll never regret it!

[Ex Finn.]

If you just discovered the need for high ISO then upgrade now. 1K or so for that body is not bad. Otherwise, wait and see what comes down the pike.

[jatrax]

Quite hard to pass up the current pricing. At $1,000 usd it is hard to beat. Best guess for a replacement would be announcement in September with delivery several months after. So maybe next Christmas?? And the replacement price will be at least $1,500 maybe higher. So I say get it now, and if the replacement is so good you have to have it then sell the k-5. You likely will not lose much, and might even make a bit if the k-5 price goes back up.

[cmohr]

I too was faced with this recently myself. I have the K-7, but its not what it should be in my opinion, I was waiting to see what would release in Feb, and with nothing decided I would bite the bullet and get the K-5 and I'm not disappointed only that I didn't get it sooner, as people say Its IQ is superb, and will not diminish, and the fact that currently at around 1k it's aa absolute bargin, I paid 1700 for my K-7 2-odd years ago, and any successor released will most likely be up around the 1700-2000 mark, and if it is a FF 2500plus in reality. So what I'm saying is NOW is a good time to get a cheap price on an excellent camera.

[RioRico]

Yes.

But not for me.

I haven't broken my K20D. Yet.

[interested_observer]

I have been using my K20 for almost 3 years. During this time, I have been saving here and there for a replacement - just in case. The K20 has been doing wonderfully. I had considered the K5, and literally decided to bypass it and wait for the end of the next product cycle, before making a decision. I found with the K20 that if you acquire at the end of the model run, you can get a great camera at a great price.

I was able to pick up the K20 new at the very end of the model run as the K7 was announced for $650. I remember watching the K7 end its model run with a new price of around $750. So, I was estimating that the low for a new K5 maybe around $800 to $850.

In mid January, I happened to check my email before going off for the day and just happened to check the forum here and saw a post about K5 excellent pricing. Clicked on the link and saw that Samy's camera over in LA (an authorized Pentax dealer), was selling them for $750. I just picked up the phone and ordered - since I had already saved the cash. Now some have speculated that it was a pricing error. I asked when I called back to check on shipping and they would not say one way or another. I'll chalk it up to pure luck, timing and good fortune.

The only reason I was even considering the upgrade was that the K5 provided improved image quality & dynamic range in ambient low light / shadow conditions. I shoot almost exclusively in the evening and nights. So, there was definitely a reason to consider an upgrade.

Now the K20 is really an excellent camera - hopefully the K5 will perform just as well. I have a few weeks left on my 2 year extended warranty free cleaning and check out. I'll take it over to CRIS get it tuned up and then consider what I am going to do. It has been a really good and dependable friend - teaching me a lot.

[civiletti]

It's a great camera.

[cmohr]

Yes.

But not for me.

I haven't broken my K20D. Yet.

RioRico makes a very valid point. "If it ain't Broke... Don't fix it!"

Thats why I didn't bother upgrading from My *istD, until it started having an imtermitant rear screen, Its still a stellar camera, even with this hassle every now and then, but I can see its on its last legs, My K-7 although a fine camera did not actually give as good an image as I can still get from my *istD. ( I actually believe it is subject to a SR/sensor skake issue when the shutter releases, I think it's falk that talks about it in his blog)

[calsan]

I have K10d and K-7 as well, but I'm saving my moolah for some of those lenses on the roadmap for 2013. Either the short DA* zoom ... or the limited zoom ... or maybe a DA15 or maybe a DFA100WR.... need all the cabbage for the LBA!

[tafzal]

Thank you all for your useful responses. I am new to the forum and been really impressed by how quick and helpful other members are.
I am persuaded to go ahead and buy K5. Now the next decison: Buy it new or used

[carmic]

Thank you all for your useful responses. I am new to the forum and been really impressed by how quick and helpful other members are.
I am persuaded to go ahead and buy K5. Now the next decison: Buy it new or used

I would suggest New

[Staffan]

Just buy a new K5. It is very worthwhile now because of much lower price and decreased risk to get bad copies from the factory. And with a new one you have the whole guarantee period left. I would not hesitate a second! A fantastic camera really...