While the big news for the Pentax K-5 is the new class leading sensor, this new Pro DSLR is a product of Pentax’s commitment to continually improving their camera system. The Pentax K-5 inherits the basic body from its predecessor the K7 while internal functionality has developed in stages with each new digital SLR camera.
The DxO Mark tests suggest the image quality from the Sony sensor is comparable to any other DSLR but how well does the rest of the camera work in real life.
Menus
Even though the Pentax K-5 has a multitude of buttons and switches on the camera body, because it is such a powerful photographic tool there is a considerable range of options in the menu system. In the older K10D photographers needed to scroll through some pages to get to some of the settings. Sometimes it is not obvious that scrolling down is needed. In the K-5 it is all horizontal scrolling, with the number of pages clearly indicated in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Megapixel Mania
Sixteen plus megapixel resolution is not necessary for most uses, but it is handy. The thoroughbred race horse picture was an opportunistic grab, and initial thoughts were that it needed a longer focal length lens than the DA* 50-135mm zoom. However, with the extra megapixels it is possible to be more adventurous when cropping digital photos.
Body and Controls
The Pentax K-5 inherits its body from its predecessor, the K-7, while evolving from the first of the current series of Pentax pro DSLRs, the K10D. Prompted by the need to accommodate a larger rear LCD screen the new body incorporates lessons learnt from the K10/20D models.
The Pentax K10/20 DSLR’s external controls are easy and smooth to operate, too easy, particularly the focus mode lever which seems to find its way to the Continuous Focus position with monotonous regularity. Now the controls are smaller and harder operate, which ironically is an improvement. The shape of the larger right hand grip helps the camera to sit nicely into the hand.
The new dedicated ISO button makes sense on the Pentax K-5 because with its improved low light performance and increased sensitivity range. With the pentax K10D it took exceptional circumstances to move the ISO setting beyond 100 due its susceptibility to digital noise.
Autofocus
In general use it seems fine, fast and accurate. In low light the green focus assist light comes on, and there is no focus hunting for close subjects. When photographing fast moving subjects, such as race horses and greyhounds, the Pentax K-5’s new SAFOX IX+ autofocus system tracked the subjects properly. On the K10D the older SAFOX system had trouble tracking the moving subject.
Frame Rate
The first try was a greyhound trial session. Even with it set to favor continuous autofocus over frame rate, the Pentax K5 rattles away at an amazing speed, threatening to fill the memory card in a few passes.
Improved Noise and ISO Range
The impressive DxO Mark test results give a confidence in using higher ISO settings the older K10D failed to inspire. This opens up new creative possibilities for further exploration. The Pink Dog photo used available light and with the ISO set to 500 achieved a reasonable balance of aperture, and shutter speed for a hand held shot. Only the standard amount of noise reduction was applied in Bibble 5. The dark background at this location is usually is noisy with the K10D.
Some basketball photo sessions in this article provided a good test for the K-5's low light performance
Viewfinder
The pentaprism optical viewfinder on the Pentax K-5 is now has a 100 percent view, up from 95 percent in older models. The initial result is a tendency to slightly cut off the edges of objects. In the older models the capture always included a little bit around the extra around the edges than was visible in the viewfinder.
Dislikes
Removing the memory card from its slot. The card does not come out far enough when it is ejected as the door is opened. With a bit of experimenting it is possible to get it out using your thumbnail to lock into the little groove on the SD card to lift it far enough out of the slot to grip the card securely with thumb and forefinger.
The larger rear LCD screen takes up the space where the buttons on left hand side used to be on the K10/20D body. This space provided a convenient place for the left hand to hold the camera while operating the rear controls or reviewing images. Now the LCD screen gets finger smudges on the left side.
These are relatively minor gripes and are a result of the compromises of keeping the body compact while offering advanced features.
Live View and Movie Mode
These are two areas for exploration in greater detail in later articles.
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