To buy or not to buy ( a used K5)

tokyoscape · 12-14-2019, 06:51 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by grillotalpa

How many possibilities it has to be affected from the "mirror flop syndrome".
.

I don't think K5 has a Mirror Flop Syndrome. That is earlier copies of K3.
Used to use a K5 and it was a reliable body. Its auto focus is of course using older tech and no articulated screen. They are the only 2 things I complain, Other than that, I think it is a great body.

sundown · 12-14-2019, 11:48 PM

Buy k-5IIs

Wasp · 12-15-2019, 03:52 AM

Originally posted by sundown

Buy k-5IIs

Only if the price is right. They tend to be priced very close to the K3, in some cases even higher. You miss out on 24MP, focus peaking and a few other things.

sundown · 12-15-2019, 04:48 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Wasp

Only if the price is right. They tend to be priced very close to the K3, in some cases even higher. You miss out on 24MP, focus peaking and a few other things.

Depending on the use case, but focus peaking through the rear screen is not the same as focus peaking in an EVF, really, not to mention Pentax's implementation is not as good as competitors'. So if you miss out on a feature like this in a DSLR - it won't be a biggie. On the other hand that 16MP sensor is delightful and a nice sweetspot for the Pentax limiteds

, In my opinion

grillotalpa · 12-15-2019, 07:01 AM

Originally posted by Wasp

Only if the price is right. They tend to be priced very close to the K3, in some cases even higher. You miss out on 24MP, focus peaking and a few other things.

@Wasp
unfortunetly on europe ebay mean prices are
k5 300 euro
k3 450-500 euro

photolady95 · 12-15-2019, 08:38 AM - **1 Like**

I have two K5s. One has mid shutter count, (about 28,000), the other one almost brand new if you check shutter count, (about 3,000) and I've never had a problem with either one. I bought mine because of the K5 has the lowest ISO at 80. Here they sell for about $200 or less USD.

grillotalpa · 12-15-2019, 09:47 AM - **1 Like**

At last i took it

For the little i've seen it's another planet respect nikon d40.
I thank you very much for your support.

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**kiwi_jono** · 12-15-2019, 12:20 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by grillotalpa

hi,
so your k5 is not affected from the mirror problem that scares me,
may i ask what is the s/n and the Manufacture Date?

Mine is serial no 4144257 and manufactured 2011:07:29

vinni · 12-19-2019, 02:07 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by grillotalpa

At last i took it

For the little i've seen it's another planet respect nikon d40.
I thank you very much for your support.

Congrats! I am sure you are going to be happy with your purchase. I got my K5 in 2011 and never felt the need to replace it. Instead I invested in some great lenses to further boost the quality and creative options. The K5 is built like a tank, compact enough and never let me down. 16MP is good enough for me.

**beachgardener** · 01-08-2020, 03:08 AM - **1 Like**

Yes go for it, I have a K-5 and love it

Lovely colourful images from the sensor in this camera

eddaytona · 01-31-2020, 09:01 PM

Have had a slightly used K5 since 2012. It's been to seven Burning Man festivals. The harshest dustiest conditions in America. Looks like it was buried in talcum powder by the end of the festival. Has worked perfectly for years. Had to clean the sensor once. Killer great camera.

snakebite · 03-19-2020, 03:18 PM

For a little balance, here's my experience with the K5. User for 7 years. Still using, albeit with much difficulty. Playback button has failed. ISO button sticks. Whenever i change the iso, I have to drag the button back up with my fingernail. Autofocus has failed. I focus everything manually now. Lenses lose f-stop function randomly. I have to rotate the barrel to get it back. Batteries seem to randomly drain with unusual speed. Yeah, it's a mess. I've spent way too much time fighting with my camera on my shoots. I McGuyver it and still manage to come away with shots, but overall I'm pretty disappointed in the quality.

Shane Venem | Flickr

Wasp · 03-19-2020, 03:52 PM

Originally posted by snakebite

For a little balance, here's my experience with the K5. User for 7 years. Still using, albeit with much difficulty. Playback button has failed. ISO button sticks. Whenever i change the iso, I have to drag the button back up with my fingernail. Autofocus has failed. I focus everything manually now. Lenses lose f-stop function randomly. I have to rotate the barrel to get it back. Batteries seem to randomly drain with unusual speed. Yeah, it's a mess. I've spent way too much time fighting with my camera on my shoots. I McGuyver it and still manage to come away with shots, but overall I'm pretty disappointed in the quality.

Shane Venem | Flickr

Sounds a bit like my K-x. Sometimes, after changing lenses AF stops working. Removing the lens and wiping down the mount ring on the body brings it back to life, most of the time. The bottom cover has cracked and the battery door doesn't stay closed, but duct tape works wonders. I picked it up about two years ago for $50 - perhaps I have gotten the value that I paid for. It's time for something more modern, but times are tough.

MarkJerling · 03-19-2020, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by snakebite

For a little balance, here's my experience with the K5. User for 7 years. Still using, albeit with much difficulty. Playback button has failed. ISO button sticks. Whenever i change the iso, I have to drag the button back up with my fingernail. Autofocus has failed. I focus everything manually now. Lenses lose f-stop function randomly. I have to rotate the barrel to get it back. Batteries seem to randomly drain with unusual speed. Yeah, it's a mess. I've spent way too much time fighting with my camera on my shoots. I McGuyver it and still manage to come away with shots, but overall I'm pretty disappointed in the quality.

Shane Venem | Flickr

My K5 works like new. In fact, it looks like new and I've shot 55,140 images with it so far. It's manufacture date is 16 June 2012. My daughter is using it now and enjoys it as much I I have.
Sorry to hear your's has not been as reliable!

**photogem** · 03-25-2020, 01:29 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by snakebite

For a little balance, here's my experience with the K5. User for 7 years. Still using, albeit with much difficulty. Playback button has failed. ISO button sticks. Whenever i change the iso, I have to drag the button back up with my fingernail. Autofocus has failed. I focus everything manually now. Lenses lose f-stop function randomly. I have to rotate the barrel to get it back. Batteries seem to randomly drain with unusual speed. Yeah, it's a mess. I've spent way too much time fighting with my camera on my shoots. I McGuyver it and still manage to come away with shots, but overall I'm pretty disappointed in the quality.

You wrote Jan 2018 (i.e. over 2 years ago):

Originally posted by snakebite

I just had my own issues with water with my K5. I was shooting a beach and the camera got hit with a wave, which immediately screwed up most of the camera's functions. It wasn't underwater or anything, it just got splashed pretty good. Shutter release wouldn't work. Camera back display failed. Auto-focus failed. I had a hand-held shutter release button plugged into the side of the camera and I suspect that's where the water entered. The shutter released every time I turned the camera on, so I kept on shooting by just turning the camera off and on to take a picture. I generally get some temporary functional loss whenever the camera gets really wet. In my opinion, that WR stuff is mostly marketing. Keep your camera dry, if you can. That said, I used to use an Olympus E-1 that never flinched in the wet.

So where is this "little balance"?

WR doesn't mean you're allowed to have a nice bubble-bath session with your K5 or K3.
I would be disappointed as well, but with myself!

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12-14-2019, 06:51 PM - 2 Likes	#16
tokyoscape Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,256	Originally posted by grillotalpa How many possibilities it has to be affected from the "mirror flop syndrome". . I don't think K5 has a Mirror Flop Syndrome. That is earlier copies of K3. Used to use a K5 and it was a reliable body. Its auto focus is of course using older tech and no articulated screen. They are the only 2 things I complain, Other than that, I think it is a great body.

12-14-2019, 11:48 PM	#17
sundown Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 588	Buy k-5IIs

12-15-2019, 03:52 AM	#18
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	Originally posted by sundown Buy k-5IIs Only if the price is right. They tend to be priced very close to the K3, in some cases even higher. You miss out on 24MP, focus peaking and a few other things.

12-15-2019, 04:48 AM - 1 Like	#19
sundown Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 588	Originally posted by Wasp Only if the price is right. They tend to be priced very close to the K3, in some cases even higher. You miss out on 24MP, focus peaking and a few other things. Depending on the use case, but focus peaking through the rear screen is not the same as focus peaking in an EVF, really, not to mention Pentax's implementation is not as good as competitors'. So if you miss out on a feature like this in a DSLR - it won't be a biggie. On the other hand that 16MP sensor is delightful and a nice sweetspot for the Pentax limiteds , In my opinion

12-15-2019, 07:01 AM	#20
grillotalpa New Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wasp Only if the price is right. They tend to be priced very close to the K3, in some cases even higher. You miss out on 24MP, focus peaking and a few other things. @Wasp unfortunetly on europe ebay mean prices are k5 300 euro k3 450-500 euro

12-15-2019, 08:38 AM - 1 Like	#21
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	I have two K5s. One has mid shutter count, (about 28,000), the other one almost brand new if you check shutter count, (about 3,000) and I've never had a problem with either one. I bought mine because of the K5 has the lowest ISO at 80. Here they sell for about $200 or less USD.

12-15-2019, 12:20 PM - 1 Like	#23
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Originally posted by grillotalpa hi, so your k5 is not affected from the mirror problem that scares me, may i ask what is the s/n and the Manufacture Date? Mine is serial no 4144257 and manufactured 2011:07:29

12-19-2019, 02:07 PM - 3 Likes	#24
vinni Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 235	Originally posted by grillotalpa At last i took it For the little i've seen it's another planet respect nikon d40. I thank you very much for your support. Congrats! I am sure you are going to be happy with your purchase. I got my K5 in 2011 and never felt the need to replace it. Instead I invested in some great lenses to further boost the quality and creative options. The K5 is built like a tank, compact enough and never let me down. 16MP is good enough for me.

01-08-2020, 03:08 AM - 1 Like	#25
beachgardener Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,842	Yes go for it, I have a K-5 and love it Lovely colourful images from the sensor in this camera

01-31-2020, 09:01 PM	#26
eddaytona Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Black Rock City, NV Photos: Albums Posts: 175	Have had a slightly used K5 since 2012. It's been to seven Burning Man festivals. The harshest dustiest conditions in America. Looks like it was buried in talcum powder by the end of the festival. Has worked perfectly for years. Had to clean the sensor once. Killer great camera.

03-19-2020, 03:18 PM	#27
snakebite Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 46	For a little balance, here's my experience with the K5. User for 7 years. Still using, albeit with much difficulty. Playback button has failed. ISO button sticks. Whenever i change the iso, I have to drag the button back up with my fingernail. Autofocus has failed. I focus everything manually now. Lenses lose f-stop function randomly. I have to rotate the barrel to get it back. Batteries seem to randomly drain with unusual speed. Yeah, it's a mess. I've spent way too much time fighting with my camera on my shoots. I McGuyver it and still manage to come away with shots, but overall I'm pretty disappointed in the quality. Shane Venem \| Flickr

03-19-2020, 03:52 PM	#28
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	Originally posted by snakebite For a little balance, here's my experience with the K5. User for 7 years. Still using, albeit with much difficulty. Playback button has failed. ISO button sticks. Whenever i change the iso, I have to drag the button back up with my fingernail. Autofocus has failed. I focus everything manually now. Lenses lose f-stop function randomly. I have to rotate the barrel to get it back. Batteries seem to randomly drain with unusual speed. Yeah, it's a mess. I've spent way too much time fighting with my camera on my shoots. I McGuyver it and still manage to come away with shots, but overall I'm pretty disappointed in the quality. Shane Venem \| Flickr Sounds a bit like my K-x. Sometimes, after changing lenses AF stops working. Removing the lens and wiping down the mount ring on the body brings it back to life, most of the time. The bottom cover has cracked and the battery door doesn't stay closed, but duct tape works wonders. I picked it up about two years ago for $50 - perhaps I have gotten the value that I paid for. It's time for something more modern, but times are tough.

03-19-2020, 03:54 PM	#29
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Originally posted by snakebite For a little balance, here's my experience with the K5. User for 7 years. Still using, albeit with much difficulty. Playback button has failed. ISO button sticks. Whenever i change the iso, I have to drag the button back up with my fingernail. Autofocus has failed. I focus everything manually now. Lenses lose f-stop function randomly. I have to rotate the barrel to get it back. Batteries seem to randomly drain with unusual speed. Yeah, it's a mess. I've spent way too much time fighting with my camera on my shoots. I McGuyver it and still manage to come away with shots, but overall I'm pretty disappointed in the quality. Shane Venem \| Flickr My K5 works like new. In fact, it looks like new and I've shot 55,140 images with it so far. It's manufacture date is 16 June 2012. My daughter is using it now and enjoys it as much I I have. Sorry to hear your's has not been as reliable!

03-25-2020, 01:29 AM - 1 Like	#30
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,520	Originally posted by snakebite For a little balance, here's my experience with the K5. User for 7 years. Still using, albeit with much difficulty. Playback button has failed. ISO button sticks. Whenever i change the iso, I have to drag the button back up with my fingernail. Autofocus has failed. I focus everything manually now. Lenses lose f-stop function randomly. I have to rotate the barrel to get it back. Batteries seem to randomly drain with unusual speed. Yeah, it's a mess. I've spent way too much time fighting with my camera on my shoots. I McGuyver it and still manage to come away with shots, but overall I'm pretty disappointed in the quality. You wrote Jan 2018 (i.e. over 2 years ago): Originally posted by snakebite I just had my own issues with water with my K5. I was shooting a beach and the camera got hit with a wave, which immediately screwed up most of the camera's functions. It wasn't underwater or anything, it just got splashed pretty good. Shutter release wouldn't work. Camera back display failed. Auto-focus failed. I had a hand-held shutter release button plugged into the side of the camera and I suspect that's where the water entered. The shutter released every time I turned the camera on, so I kept on shooting by just turning the camera off and on to take a picture. I generally get some temporary functional loss whenever the camera gets really wet. In my opinion, that WR stuff is mostly marketing. Keep your camera dry, if you can. That said, I used to use an Olympus E-1 that never flinched in the wet. So where is this "little balance"? WR doesn't mean you're allowed to have a nice bubble-bath session with your K5 or K3. I would be disappointed as well, but with myself!