Hello guys/gals......I used to be in this thread almost every day...and I miss it dearly, along with missing my K5IIs that was badly damaged in an accident last year.
Enough that I am considering looking for another K5IIs as a back-up for my K1.......it may end up as my primary "shooter".
After many months with the K1, let me pass on some personal thoughts that may be useful. The K1 is a wonderful camera, no doubt about that. However, I am mostly a wildlife shooter...squirrels and birds shot through my office windows. I love the Crop Mode of the K1, but in my "studied over time" opinion, it does not equal the K5IIs for this purpose. My best and most favorite shots in my galleries were with the K5IIs. A certain clarity and sharpness that exceeds the K1 in Crop Mode.
My "Fine Art"critic, Otis Squirrel concurs and points to two of his favorites among many of the K5IIs shot I have....
Of course, any squirrel that handsome will look great with any camera
......but still, the K5IIs is unbeatable.
It does equally as well with birdies....though they are not worthy of comparison to handsome squirrels...
High ISO shots are better by far with the K5IIs.....
ISO 12,800
All here have EXIF so you can judge for yourself......
Yard Birds | Flickr Yard Birds
Army of Otis | Flickr Army Squirrels
Now I am NOT knocking the K1, just saying I think the K5IIs renders better IQ under the same conditions and in Crop Mode. The K1 advantage is the fast, very fast, and accurate AF system for this type of shooting.
Low light shooting is where it excels the most with the new AF system.
I am NOT talking of FF shooting....where the K1 obviously excels at producing FF shots!...even squirrels know that!
So, if I can find me a good K5IIs in the future, I will be most happy. If you are a K5IIs shooter you should already be plenty happy
...I sure as hell was!
Best Regards!
Rupert
Forgot to add: If Pentax made a K5IIs with the AF system of the K1, I would never want another camera again...it would be the ultimate shooter!