[rjm]

A point that came up in another thread which I'd like to expand on here.

I'll take prices in JPY from Map Camera in Tokyo as being a reference.

Used body only (ex.)

K-5 116,800 yen (yeah there was a used one listed already)
K-7 49,800 (from about 80,000 last spring)
K20D 32,800 (from about 50,000 last spring)
K10D 23,800 (from about 30,000 last spring)


As you can see the K-5 is more than twice as much as the K-7, and almost five times more than a K10D.

The K-5 is a good camera, but is it more than twice as good as a K-7? Is it five times as good as a K10D?

I'd like to see someone justify the K-5 in that context, as I sure am having trouble.

[Ash]

Don't bother asking the question 'is it 5 times better' because prices do not follow this line of thinking. Recency of the technology involved in making new cameras, their cost in producing this technology, and new retail market value determine prices.

The question to you will be 'can you personally justify paying the current price for a K-5 for what you want it to do?' and if the answer is 'no' then move right along to the next option.

For many enthusiasts, the K-5 is worth the money, and so they buy it now. If you're looking for a camera body now, set your budget and make your purchase according to your needs.

[JeffJS]

A point that came up in another thread which I'd like to expand on here.

I'll take prices in JPY from Map Camera in Tokyo as being a reference.

Used body only (ex.)

K-5 116,800 yen (yeah there was a used one listed already)
K-7 49,800 (from about 80,000 last spring)
K20D 32,800 (from about 50,000 last spring)
K10D 23,800 (from about 30,000 last spring)


As you can see the K-5 is more than twice as much as the K-7, and almost five times more than a K10D.

The K-5 is a good camera, but is it more than twice as good as a K-7? Is it five times as good as a K10D?

I'd like to see someone justify the K-5 in that context, as I sure am having trouble.

Then the K5 may not be the camera for you. I paid the price, Just because I want one and that's Really the Only reason I need. No other justification needed.

[creampuff]

In my estimation the K-5 is worth every cent that I paid out for it. In terms of performance, it is a quantum leap over the K-7. Is it any wonder many are dumping their K-7s and upgrading to the K-5... yes, IT IS THAT GOOD.

[Jasvox]

I am sure the K-5 will be just as "worth it" when I buy one for under $1000 as it is today at full price. Until then, my K-7 works just fine for my real world shooting style. I suppose if I had to buy one right now, I may think otherwise or unless I was just impatient and wanted the newest thing on the market the week it was released...but I have never really been that way.

Jason

[cbaytan]

K-5 116,800 yen (yeah there was a used one listed already)
K-7 49,800 (from about 80,000 last spring)
K20D 32,800 (from about 50,000 last spring)
K10D 23,800 (from about 30,000 last spring)

As you can see the K-5 is more than twice as much as the K-7, and almost five times more than a K10D.

The K-5 is a good camera, but is it more than twice as good as a K-7? Is it five times as good as a K10D?

K5 is not the case yet, when other cameras prices are settled, K5 prices are not, you should wait at least after Christmas for a better comparison.

[Wheatfield]

The K5 is about the same price where I am that the K7 was when it was introduced.
Prices on camera bodies seems to drop as the product ages, so I'm not seeing a valid comparison between a camera that is about 2 weeks into it's release vs one that is over a year past release vs cameras that are several years old.

Look at the feature/benefits of what's out there, and decide if you can justify the price.

[dgaies]

Is the K5 worth twice the price of a K7? That depends on the person buying and using the camera. If I only took picture outdoors in good light or used lighting in a studio, the answer might be no. But since I owned both the K7 and Kx over the past year and found myself choosing the Kx quite a bit for high ISO shooting over the K7, the answer for me was yes.

So I sold my K7 and Kx and still had to throw in an extra $500 on top to get the K5. Was it worth it? To me it was because it was exactly what I had been "asking" for; a K7 with high ISO performance better than the Kx with an improved AF system.

[garyk]

I must of missed the discussion about the k-5 being better at high iso than the k-x.
Is this a fact?
G

[dgaies]

I must of missed the discussion about the k-5 being better at high iso than the k-x.
Is this a fact?
G

Not sure if there was a discussion about it or not, but the K5 is better at high ISO than the Kx. The only "proof" I can offer you is that I sold both my K7 and Kx over the weekend

All kidding aside, the K5 does deliver better performance at high ISO (vs the Kx). The difference isn't nearly as great as between the K5 and K7. I would say there is about 2.5-3 stops difference between the K5 and K7 and about a stop between the K5 and Kx. I took indoor shots last night at ISO12800 with the K5 that were better than they would have been had they been shot on my Kx. At 6400, if exposed well, the K5 puts out relatively clean images.

[rawr]

Wasn't there only recently another thread here that went many (too many) pages on an almost identical issue - the K-5 vs K-r value equation? Going back a bit further I think I also remember one about the K-7 vs the K-x.

Why not try and justify the K-5 against a disposable film camera as well? What could possibly justify the K-5 being 100 times the price of a disposable? I mean the disposable is full-frame 35mm and everyone knows film has a higher resolution than the K-5. Etc etc and around we go.

These discussions are never fruitful. Ask Pentax and their retailers and distributors to justify their pricing policy, don't ask us.

[garyk]

Thanks dgaies. High iso is very important to me. I also have the k-x and the k-7.
I love the k-7 body. Before my gripe was the iso thing. Sounds like the same gripe you had.
G

[dgaies]

Thanks dgaies. High iso is very important to me. I also have the k-x and the k-7.
I love the k-7 body. Before my gripe was the iso thing. Sounds like the same gripe you had.
G

You're welcome. It sounds like you'd be very happy with the K5. Not sure if it's in your budget at the moment, but other than price, there really isn't a reason (IMO) not to shoot with a K5 over either a K7 or Kx.

[garyk]

It is in my budget now, but i am a tight ass...
I am going to wait until after christmas to order it. Hoping the price will come down.
I want it now,,, stomp stomp..... now!!!
I may not wait...
Thanks for the input.
g

[dgaies]

It is in my budget now, but i am a tight ass...
I am going to wait until after christmas to order it. Hoping the price will come down.
I want it now,,, stomp stomp..... now!!!
I may not wait...
Thanks for the input.
g

I'm (usually) a tight ass too... I normally wait until the price drops significantly before buying a new body. But in this case I said to hell with it and bought what I wanted, even knowing that in 6 months it will be at about 25-30% less expensive.

Maybe I took a cue from my toddler with the "I want it now" stomping