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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-25-2019, 01:29 PM
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Very fine lens selection. An FA 35mm f/2 would fit in there very nicely also. In the future, if you should feel the practical need for a good zoom lens having WR and exceptionally fast, quiet, accurate AF, the DA 18-135mm delivers on all counts, and does so with the K-5 series. Very good to excellent image quality, especially in the central frame area throughout its very wide, versatile zoom range. Even very good edge-to-edge at its shorter end. Very well-built also, and yet compact. I recently used this lens to shoot a wrestling match, and before that a baptism in a church. Fine results from my K-5 for the wrestling, and K-5 IIs for the baptism.
The 4-star JPEG quality is one of the unique features of the K-5 series. Less compression of JPEG files, that much closer to RAW, possibly better dynamic range, and in any post process editing, more latitude for adjustments. I've never noticed a difference in writing time, but could be. I would think RAW files being larger could also affect this.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-21-2019, 06:10 PM
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My observation has been that the K-5 series also tends to under-expose very slightly, but not near as much as the previous K20D and K200D. Maybe 1/3 stop. It is so marginal I don't always compensate for it, depending on the lighting, the scene, and/or the effect I am looking for. A very minor thing. In fact, in well-lit scenes it may produce colors a bit richer from this effect.
The KP, the K-S2, and the little K-r I had before replacing it with the K-S2, do not do this.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-20-2019, 08:50 PM
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Although having and now primarily shooting with the KP, which I love, I am still extremely fond of my K-5 IIs, which I bought new in a great closeout deal when the first K-3 came onto the shelves. It has a great set of controls and layout, and great ergonomics. It also has a deeper buffer than the KP. So when I need its advantages, it is so good I have no hesitation in employing it. I also have the optional battery grip for it, I believe being the same one as the K-3, which can allow using AA lithium batteries if I've let my other batteries run low. Image quality is still excellent, even now!
I hope you will enjoy your K-5 IIs as much as I do mine! For excellent results with out-of-camera shots, the advice regarding adding "Fine Sharpening" in the Custom Image menus still goes with this model. In fact, with this one, I also increase sharpening level to +2 from mid-point. With the K-5 series, you can access the Custom Image categories and menus directly via the button to the right of the ok button on the rear. Then the 4 buttons around the ok button become navigational. In the"Bright" category, sharpening is up by+1 by default, so I just increased it by 1 more, then added an F by the S with the thumb dial to implement "Fine Sharpening". This will provide even better fine detail in your images. The camera set to the "Bright" category is very good for most scenarios.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-09-2019, 04:00 PM
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I have the KP and have had the DA 21mm for a number of years. It is a fine lens. Like BigMack, I've found the central area to be very sharp right from wide open, with edges being just good until f/5.6 where they sharpen up nicely. It is great in being so compact for easy carrying, and a good versatile FL. However, since getting the DA 20-40mm DC WR Limited I don't use the 21mm as much. I find the edge performance at 20mm wide open is better than the DA 21mm LTD. It is remarkably compact and also, as has been said, it seems to have been designed with the KP in mind, they go so well together for light carrying, and style-wise. Balance is great. I got silver in both- a great look! I've gotten such fine results from it on my KP I highly recommend it without hesitation.
Right now Adorama has an incredible sale price going for it- $449.95! By far the lowest price I have seen. Nearly 1/2 price! It is shown as backordered, however, but you place your order at that price and get notification as soon as it comes in.
You can google each lens under its name, and find a review by Imaging Resource with a test shot of actual real world objects in their still life scene. They offer shots at wide open aperture and again at f/8, so when you select one of these and it opens to that shot, you then click on the center, which is the right edge of the basket. Then a huge blowup occurs. You can then move around to different areas of the image. Check for sharpness and detail in the two images on the Hellas and Fiddler's Elbow bottles, and the writing on the Samuel Smith bottle, as well as other objects. For edge performance, (of course never being as good as in central area) move over to the farthest brush and circular numerical scale, as well as the top edge of the basket.
Unfortunately, this test was somewhat compromised for shots wth the DA 21mm, since there was quite a bit of reflected glare coming in from a window, affecting contrast and obscuring some details.
The KP's JPEG output is great, and can be time saving. Just be sure to remember to implement "Fine Sharpening" in the Custom Image menus.
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