Originally posted by Kameraten The K-5 II:s are out, with improvements to the AF that should get due appreciation. But I think it's a shame Pentax didn't use the opportunity to make a number of other improvements, no great advancements in technology needed, that would set it apart from the previous models.
1. The LV-button could have been moved a little away from the four-way controller and the AF point selector.
2. The AF point selector could have been made less stiff which would make it's swift use easier. With gloves on you now invariably press the LV-button too.
3. You could rethink the positions of the AF point selector. Why do you need a position for the center point when it's just as easy to set by pressing the OK button? Use that position for something new - or get rid of it, which would improve the interface.
4. The expanded focus point selection now available in AF-C could be made available in AF-S too, and there it would mean activating groups of points. This, again, would make the option of the "center five points" array redundant. Expanded focus point selection could take it's place in the Control Panel.
5. The modules in the third row of the Control Panel could be replaced by directly shooting-related settings like the different focusing modes for live view, rather than the filter effects that occupy it now. Why not make some or even all of the modules in the Control Panel user-selectable?
6. The switch for AF-S, AF-C and MF should be moved to the back and/or made more easily turned. See how it's done on the 645D.
7. When the AF-button is set to deactivate focus, it should make MF possible immediately with all lenses, clutch or no clutch.
8. The most simple thing of all: Give the new model some new feature in the exterior that immediately sets it off from the older models. A new color, a colored line, area or letter. It's practical, and it gives the proud owner a chance to show off.
I hope some of this finds it's way into K-5 III
K5II is pretty much the same camera as K5 w/ only an improved AF module and a bit change on the rear LCD. I bet Pentax used whatever made for K5 in their production lines to make K5II/K5IIs, including the molds for the camera bodies, buttons, the main PCB board and etc.That's why they can push out K5II and K5IIs in very short time w/o much effort or investment.
We'll see a much improved camera in the next version which would combine what they already developed in K5II (better low light AF) and K30 (faster image processing, full HD video, better live view, focus peaking and etc.). I'm sure they are working on some tilt-able LCD as well so we might have that in our next camera. And I'm guessing it's still an APSC camera before they announce a FF one eventually. And even when FF does come out for Pentax, they'd still continue the improvement on new APSC cameras (which have much bigger market share than FF ones).