K-5 in Australia?

Freak · 04-11-2011, 07:27 PM

Does anyone know if the Silver K-5 is going to be sold in Oz (Anyone asked CRK?)

**Ash** · 04-11-2011, 09:22 PM

Wouldn't hold your breath about the limited edition K-5's coming to Australia.
I'd just buy it through B&H, knowing they have a full international guarantee for the first two weeks, and whatever warranty you choose to purhcase after that. B&H and Adorama are highly recommended.

As for advertising, we know it works, and their marketing strategy has been quite effective (referring to the quality, not the quantity per se). It would help for more of an online presence (sponsored links and the sort) as well as some billboards. Magazines are great, but they target a limited audience.

buzzvic · 04-11-2011, 09:26 PM

Originally posted by Freak

Does anyone know if the Silver K-5 is going to be sold in Oz (Anyone asked CRK?)

I dropped a mail to CR Kennedy and they confirmed that the Silver K-5 is not availble in Australia.

I got mine from the Official Agent in Malaysia though

**wizofoz** · 04-11-2011, 10:26 PM

Originally posted by Ash

Back to the K-5 in Australia, if any of you have seen the current edition of Digital Photography magazine (Landscape issue) have a look at the reviews of the K-5 and D7000. With no 'review' material in their one page write up of these cameras (really just a set of feature presentations), they came to the conclusion that the K-5 is a 6/10 review and the D7000 is a 9/10 review.

All the other magazines I've seen these two cameras being reviewed in the same editions have presented the K-5 in a very similar light and score as the D7000. As nice as the Landscape edition of Digital Photography is as a magazine, that was somewhat of a turn off...

Yeah I saw that article Ash. I was quite upset about it. If they had a 'letters to the editor' section, they would have got a heated one from me.

If you read the articles, it states (from memory) that the D7k can shoot at 6fps, and in the K-5 review it states that the 'K-5's 7 FPS is not quite as good as the competition'.....Huh? I dunno what substance abuse problems these guys have, but to score the D7k as 50% better (6/10 v 9/10) than the K-5 is laughable.

twitch · 04-11-2011, 10:37 PM

Be aware that a silver K-5 from B&H or Adorama will attract a fair wack of GST & import duties, probably $230ish. Those 2 companies do not falsify customs forms unlike other certain Hong Kong retailers selling through ebay.

goddo31 · 04-11-2011, 11:22 PM

Guys, I thought I might do a quick first impressions of the K-5 post, from a user coming from the K200D. I've had the K-5 for 2 weeks now and have taken about 500 shots.

K-5 first impressions
- Nicely built body, noticeably more solid and heavier than the K200D
- The extra controls compared to K200D are great
- Learning curve coming from K200D (and I assume other older Pentax DLSRs) is noticeable but fairly minor. The menu layouts are logical.

K-5 impressions after 2 weeks intermittent use
- K-5 focuses extremely fast and accurate (compared to K200D) - excellent!
- Metering is reliable and seems to be improved slightly compared to K200D
- Yes, the low noise performance is very, very impressive. Even from 400-1600ISO from my gut feeling
- Extended DR especially at ISO80 is more noticeable than I would have thought! Seemed very handy for sunset shots
- I for one love the colour profile of the 16MP sensor
- Sharpness seems great as you would expect. The resolution boost from 10MP appears to deliver a large amount more detail.
- The difference in cropping room is quite noticeable!
- Amazingly quiet shutter/mirror
- Liveview is quite handy for critical focus on static objects with MF lenses
- 7fps is really fast, probably even too fast IMO!

I think part of it is general familiarisation with the camera, but IMO the K-5 does seem to demand better technique to get critically sharp shots compared to the 10MP K200D. Please keep in mind that I am still learning this when I show you my examples

1. After sunset at ISO80

2. Rough BIF with 60-250 lens, cropped significantly*

3. Again, cropped significantly*

Full size cropped image available* here
*Note that it's ISO800, shot in RAW with no NR adjustments done in PP (I think, 98% sure!)

4. Mess around shot with DA35 f/2.8 limited

**Ash** · 04-12-2011, 12:49 AM

Right twitch, although the customs charge would still have to be paid for any K-5 imported from overseas, at least for now until the going price drops to under US$1000. And over-parity Aussie dollar won't last all that long...

Good first impression Jason - quite expected, and a very welcome improvement from the sensor output from the K200D, which was a gorgeous CCD.

Freak · 04-12-2011, 01:55 AM

Originally posted by buzzvic

I dropped a mail to CR Kennedy and they confirmed that the Silver K-5 is not availble in Australia.

I got mine from the Official Agent in Malaysia though

Cheers, Was that Emjay?

buzzvic · 04-12-2011, 04:27 AM

Emjay is the authorised agent in Singapore.

In Malaysia, it is DSC World. DSC World Sdn Bhd

campdog · 04-12-2011, 05:06 AM

If my K5 wasnt back before US trip in May I would have got a K5 silver then.
My K5 came back today as good as new with now only 49 shutter count. Even have a battery in it when it came back.
Will have to spend some money on a new lens or tripod.
John

**Ash** · 04-12-2011, 03:13 PM

Good one John.
Hope this one performs as expected.
Enjoy it.

**rod_grant** · 04-15-2011, 12:55 AM

Hey, just browsed through the March-May edition of Photo Review Australia:
Page 4 - full page advert for K5
Page 54 - full page review of Kr
(Who said advertising doesn't work: you advertise, we review your camera!)
The Kr got an Editor's Choice flag (but then so did the E5 and D7000 also reviewed).
The overall score actually favoured the K5 (9.0 conpared to 8.5 for the Olly and 8.8 for the Nikon).

dosdan · 09-14-2011, 07:19 PM

If you've been watching the OZ price of the K-5, please be aware that www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au has not updated their main Pentax DSLR page, but has updated the K-5 individual webpage:

So the price of the K-5 body at Pentax Digital SLR Cameras - Digital Camera Warehouse says $1569.

but Pentax K5 Digital SLR Camera - Body Only - Digital Camera Warehouse Australia says $1159.

Edit: prices on the main Pentax DSLR page have now been updated.

Dan

raider · 09-15-2011, 02:56 AM

@goddo31, Congrats mate on your new K-5. May i venture to ask if u have a good copy with no sensor stains and all? I have been resisting the temptation to upgrade all this while and I am getting weaker....

goddo31 · 09-15-2011, 03:25 AM

Originally posted by raider

@goddo31, Congrats mate on your new K-5. May i venture to ask if u have a good copy with no sensor stains and all? I have been resisting the temptation to upgrade all this while and I am getting weaker....

Hi mate, I've had it for months now

Serial number is 396xxx I think and it's done 7k shutter actuations so far.
And no, no issues to speak of at all.

09-14-2011, 07:19 PM	#733
dosdan Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,741	If you've been watching the OZ price of the K-5, please be aware that www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au has not updated their main Pentax DSLR page, but has updated the K-5 individual webpage: So the price of the K-5 body at Pentax Digital SLR Cameras - Digital Camera Warehouse says $1569. but Pentax K5 Digital SLR Camera - Body Only - Digital Camera Warehouse Australia says $1159. Edit: prices on the main Pentax DSLR page have now been updated. Dan Last edited by dosdan; 09-15-2011 at 04:43 AM.

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04-11-2011, 07:27 PM	#721
Freak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 361	Does anyone know if the Silver K-5 is going to be sold in Oz (Anyone asked CRK?)

04-11-2011, 09:22 PM	#722
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Wouldn't hold your breath about the limited edition K-5's coming to Australia. I'd just buy it through B&H, knowing they have a full international guarantee for the first two weeks, and whatever warranty you choose to purhcase after that. B&H and Adorama are highly recommended. As for advertising, we know it works, and their marketing strategy has been quite effective (referring to the quality, not the quantity per se). It would help for more of an online presence (sponsored links and the sort) as well as some billboards. Magazines are great, but they target a limited audience.

04-11-2011, 09:26 PM	#723
buzzvic Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 270	Originally posted by Freak Does anyone know if the Silver K-5 is going to be sold in Oz (Anyone asked CRK?) I dropped a mail to CR Kennedy and they confirmed that the Silver K-5 is not availble in Australia. I got mine from the Official Agent in Malaysia though

04-11-2011, 10:26 PM	#724
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,695	Originally posted by Ash Back to the K-5 in Australia, if any of you have seen the current edition of Digital Photography magazine (Landscape issue) have a look at the reviews of the K-5 and D7000. With no 'review' material in their one page write up of these cameras (really just a set of feature presentations), they came to the conclusion that the K-5 is a 6/10 review and the D7000 is a 9/10 review. All the other magazines I've seen these two cameras being reviewed in the same editions have presented the K-5 in a very similar light and score as the D7000. As nice as the Landscape edition of Digital Photography is as a magazine, that was somewhat of a turn off... Yeah I saw that article Ash. I was quite upset about it. If they had a 'letters to the editor' section, they would have got a heated one from me. If you read the articles, it states (from memory) that the D7k can shoot at 6fps, and in the K-5 review it states that the 'K-5's 7 FPS is not quite as good as the competition'.....Huh? I dunno what substance abuse problems these guys have, but to score the D7k as 50% better (6/10 v 9/10) than the K-5 is laughable.

04-11-2011, 10:37 PM	#725
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Be aware that a silver K-5 from B&H or Adorama will attract a fair wack of GST & import duties, probably $230ish. Those 2 companies do not falsify customs forms unlike other certain Hong Kong retailers selling through ebay.

04-11-2011, 11:22 PM	#726
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Guys, I thought I might do a quick first impressions of the K-5 post, from a user coming from the K200D. I've had the K-5 for 2 weeks now and have taken about 500 shots. K-5 first impressions - Nicely built body, noticeably more solid and heavier than the K200D - The extra controls compared to K200D are great - Learning curve coming from K200D (and I assume other older Pentax DLSRs) is noticeable but fairly minor. The menu layouts are logical. K-5 impressions after 2 weeks intermittent use - K-5 focuses extremely fast and accurate (compared to K200D) - excellent! - Metering is reliable and seems to be improved slightly compared to K200D - Yes, the low noise performance is very, very impressive. Even from 400-1600ISO from my gut feeling - Extended DR especially at ISO80 is more noticeable than I would have thought! Seemed very handy for sunset shots - I for one love the colour profile of the 16MP sensor - Sharpness seems great as you would expect. The resolution boost from 10MP appears to deliver a large amount more detail. - The difference in cropping room is quite noticeable! - Amazingly quiet shutter/mirror - Liveview is quite handy for critical focus on static objects with MF lenses - 7fps is really fast, probably even too fast IMO! I think part of it is general familiarisation with the camera, but IMO the K-5 does seem to demand better technique to get critically sharp shots compared to the 10MP K200D. Please keep in mind that I am still learning this when I show you my examples 1. After sunset at ISO80 2. Rough BIF with 60-250 lens, cropped significantly* 3. Again, cropped significantly* Full size cropped image available* here *Note that it's ISO800, shot in RAW with no NR adjustments done in PP (I think, 98% sure!) 4. Mess around shot with DA35 f/2.8 limited

04-12-2011, 12:49 AM	#727
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Right twitch, although the customs charge would still have to be paid for any K-5 imported from overseas, at least for now until the going price drops to under US$1000. And over-parity Aussie dollar won't last all that long... Good first impression Jason - quite expected, and a very welcome improvement from the sensor output from the K200D, which was a gorgeous CCD.

04-12-2011, 01:55 AM	#728
Freak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 361	Originally posted by buzzvic I dropped a mail to CR Kennedy and they confirmed that the Silver K-5 is not availble in Australia. I got mine from the Official Agent in Malaysia though Cheers, Was that Emjay?

04-12-2011, 04:27 AM	#729
buzzvic Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 270	Emjay is the authorised agent in Singapore. In Malaysia, it is DSC World. DSC World Sdn Bhd

04-12-2011, 05:06 AM	#730
campdog Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bonny Hills, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 202	If my K5 wasnt back before US trip in May I would have got a K5 silver then. My K5 came back today as good as new with now only 49 shutter count. Even have a battery in it when it came back. Will have to spend some money on a new lens or tripod. John

04-12-2011, 03:13 PM	#731
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Good one John. Hope this one performs as expected. Enjoy it.

04-15-2011, 12:55 AM	#732
rod_grant Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wangaratta, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,951	Hey, just browsed through the March-May edition of Photo Review Australia: Page 4 - full page advert for K5 Page 54 - full page review of Kr (Who said advertising doesn't work: you advertise, we review your camera!) The Kr got an Editor's Choice flag (but then so did the E5 and D7000 also reviewed). The overall score actually favoured the K5 (9.0 conpared to 8.5 for the Olly and 8.8 for the Nikon).

09-15-2011, 02:56 AM	#734
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989	@goddo31, Congrats mate on your new K-5. May i venture to ask if u have a good copy with no sensor stains and all? I have been resisting the temptation to upgrade all this while and I am getting weaker....

09-15-2011, 03:25 AM	#735
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Originally posted by raider @goddo31, Congrats mate on your new K-5. May i venture to ask if u have a good copy with no sensor stains and all? I have been resisting the temptation to upgrade all this while and I am getting weaker.... Hi mate, I've had it for months now Serial number is 396xxx I think and it's done 7k shutter actuations so far. And no, no issues to speak of at all.