Pentax K-5 16.3 MP Digital SLR with 18-55mm Lens and 3-Inch LCD. Pentax has announced the latest member of its DSLR line-up, the K-5. The new model is based on the Japanese manufacturer’s current flagship DSLR, the K-7. Body design and control layout are identical but the K-5 comes with a new 16.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, faster continuous shooting and a very high maximum sensitivity of ISO 51200 (the highest in an APS-C camera so far). Click through to read the press release and our brief hands-on preview which gives you an overview of the differences between the new K-5 and the K-7.
The first thing I noticed is how petite the K-5 looks, though looks are deceiving. This baby is dense and weighs much more than you’d expect from the size. I’m sure that the magnesium body and extensive weather seals have a lot to do with that. This is one solid piece of kit. The camera has plenty of external controls, about what you’d expect from a body in this price range. I’ve shot with my sealed K20D in the Pacific Northwest rain a lot with no problems. My two shoots with the K-5 in the wet show it to be as least as good. Though Pentax has dropped the multiple exposure button. You can program the custom program button to duplicate that feature. As far a programming, the K-5 has the extensive customizability I came to love with my K20D. The feature list is extensive and way too long to go over in a short review.
Product Features
- 16.3-megapixel CMOS sensor; 80-12800 ISO range with improved noise performance
- Kit includes 18-55mm lens
- Widescreen 1080p HD video at 25 FPS, with sound via built-in or external 3.5mm stereo microphone jack
- 6-7fps captures fast action shots; 11-point SAFOX IX+ autofocus system with dedicated AF assist lamp and light wavelength sensor
- Large 3-inch LCD with 921,000 dots of resolution; fully weather-sealed and coldproof design
- SDXC memory card compatibility (via firmware update)
Additional Features
- Electronic level function, with a newly added tilt confirmation tool
- Extended-exposure NR (Noise Reduction) function, with a choice of Auto, On and Off modes
- High-sensitivity NR (Noise Reduction) function, with a camera-dependent Auto mode and a user-adjustable reduction level control for different sensitivity settings
- RAW/Fx button, for single-action switching of image file format
- Large, easy-to-view 3.0-inch wide-view colour LCD monitor with 921,000 dots
- 77-segment multi-pattern metering system for extra-accurate light measurement
- DR II (Dust Removal II) mechanism
- Long battery life, for recording of 1,100 images with full recharge
- User-friendly Hyper control system, to flexibly and accurately respond to the photographer’s creative intentions
- Dynamic-range expansion function, to compensate for both whitewashed (overexposed) and black-out (underexposed) areas
- Automatic compensation of distortion and lateral chromatic aberration (available only with DA-,DFA- and FA Limited-series lenses)
- CTE mode, to automatically adjust the white-balance level to emphasize primary colours of sunset scenes
- Attachment of copyright credits on recorded images
- D-BG4 Battery Grip (optional) for extra power supply with an exclusive rechargeable lithium-ion battery or six AA-size batteries
- Color-specific control buttons/dials for easy recognition and quick access, based on the universal colour design
- Pentax Digital Camera Utility 4 software package
