The new forum layout has no perfect place for such threads but I want it here...
As posted on DPR, FNAC in France has published test results for the K-5 including an AF.C test.
FNAC is France's biggest consumer electronics retail chain and they run an own test laboratory. On first glimpse, they seem to leave any other testing lab (DPR etc.) in the dust. E.g., the have a shake reduction simulation robot to simulate unharmonic shake. And they have an optical bench capable of simulating moving targets at arbitrary speed and distance. For both they say to be world leading and for the latter, I can believe it (I know of another SR simulator in Germany though). Beyond, they cooprate with DxO labs which are in the same city (I assume).
The original thread where this was published is here:
*Pentax K-5 - * 16.3 Mpix stabilisé- (cashback) [ Topic unique ] - Page : 42 - Appareil - Photo numérique - FORUM HardWare.fr
The full source of testing data are the following four documents (in reverse chronological order):
I would download the 1st document as it's source seems to be inofficial.
Note that the AF scale is reversed in the 2008 document.
On first glimpse (as being layed out in the original thread)
the K-5 AF.C destoys the K-7 AF.C and
is on par with D7000 and 60D, actually a bit ahead of them.
However, I really recommend to browse thru the above two documents. They are a very interesting read anyway!
E.g., you'll find that a 1000D AF.C leaves anything in the dust, incl. a 7D
So, take the results with a grain of salt. Esp. as I couldn't find an exact source of testing conditions (AF point?, AF.C sub mode? etc.). Moreover, the lenses do vary (switched from K-7 to K-5 and I wonder which 70-200/2.8 lens on Pentax they actually used...
Moreover, I think they rate sharpness at 100% crop which represents an advantage for the lower resolving bodies. So, the results for a higher resolving body should be read giving the results a more favorite interpretation.
Anyway, the attachment shows my own compilation of results for recent Pentax bodies.
I read the result for the K-5 as follows: It doesn't hesitate anymore with the subject approaching near and continues to fire away. And continues to deliver sharp results until the last 1 or 2 photos.
Taking the distance of the last sharp photo as an indicator, then K-5 is a signifiant step forward. Overall, K-5 seems to be the first Pentax body delivering AF.C FNAC charts like the better bodies from other vendors. And a 50D beats a 60D which again may be due to FNAC's resolution bias.
Last edited by falconeye; 11-14-2010 at 04:55 AM.