Pentax K-5

Price

Body only	$639 - $660	With 18-55mm lens	$800
	all K-5 prices

Snapsort rank

Within its price range	#n/a of 11	Among similar cameras	#n/a of 17
	details		details

Key specs

Sensor size	APS-C 23.6x15.7mm	Screen resolution	920k dots
Megapixels	16.1 MP	Movie format	1080p @ 25fps
Screen size	3.0"	Light sensitivity	12,800 ISO
	see all specifications

Lenses

	Browse all Pentax K-5 lenses at LensHero

Pentax has replaced the K-5 with the K-5 IIs and K-5 II.

Pentax K-5 IIs announced September, 2012

	Significantly longer battery life
	Slightly lower noise at high ISO
	Better color depth

Compare the new Pentax K-5 IIs vs the K-5

Pentax K-5 II announced September, 2012

	Lower noise at high ISO
	Significantly longer battery life
	Slightly larger sensor

Compare the new Pentax K-5 II vs the K-5


Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 150 users at Amazon.com

"For a relatively small camera, the K-5 is solid and well constructed, and has a reassuring weight."

dpreview.com | talking about the camera's build-quality

"All of the major controls fall readily to hand."

dpreview.com | talking about the camera's button-layout

"Fast contrast detect Auto Focus in Live View"

dpreview.com | talking about the camera's auto-focus

Demonstration of the Pentax K5...		Pentax K-5 Review		A US Soldier demonstrates how ...
	Review Pro Weather sealed		Review Pro Image quality Weather sealed		Tutorial Shooting video Photography

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The Pentax K-5 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

	Weather sealed
	Shoot in extreme weather

	Incredible shutter lag
	104 ms shutter lag

	Doesn't use battery, see more detail
	Pentaprism

	Above average battery life
	740 shots

	Above average viewfinder coverage
	100%

	Quite small
	Prosumer size 130x96x72 mm

	Thin
	2.9"

	Low noise at high ISO
	1,162 ISO

	Great overall image quality
	82.0

	Wide dynamic range
	14.1 EV

	Image stabilization
	Sensor shift

	Slightly larger than average sensor
	APS-C 23.6x15.7mm

	Very high boost light sensitivity
	51,200 ISO

	Fast shutter speed
	1/8000 of a second

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The Pentax K-5 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

	Full HD
	1080p @ 25fps

	Lower true resolution
	16.1 MP

	Lacks in-camera panoramas
	You could stitch photos in post

	Slightly fewer lenses available
	109 lenses

	Heavy
	740 g

	Not so popular
	Among snapsort users

	No 24p movies
	Missing that film look

	Fixed screen
	Less flexible

	Manual focus only
	None

	Fewer focus points
	11

	Doesn't take 3D photos
	No 3d support

	Old
	September, 2010

K-5

Pentax

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Showing 25 comments

andrew

(10:24 PM, May 22, 2012)

This is the best Aps-c sensor camera you can buy! it is you know it Nikon fan boys! the Iso preformance is unreal!!! i was getting a d7000 but opted for this at the last second and now im glad i did it is one hell of a camera!! can do everything, very profesional yet smaller than usual! my buffer holds 28 raw files in 7fps burst! witch is better than a 5d! and there is the same choice of lens available just cause nikon makes more lens's than pentax doesnt mean noten sigma and tamoron are out there too people!! buying this camera and you will not be disapointed! :D

m.Svitek

(9:44 PM, March 20, 2012)

Just buy a good SDXC card and use that... A 64GB one will write just as fast as the buffer; about an unlimited number of shots

m.Svitek

(9:41 PM, March 20, 2012)

I personally own the k-5 and a d7000 and I actually enjoy the shooting freedom of the pentax much more. Don't let the lens availability mark turn you off the pentax! It covers just the same range as any F-mount lens setup... And costs much less (more prime lenses too)

Aiveaivan

(7:47 PM, February 08, 2012)

im not a pro on camera but i like taking picture's im thinking which one i choice k5 or d7000

Andrew From Ireland

(6:31 PM, February 08, 2012)

Watch this video....... Nuff said!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MVESxMQuOw&feature=related

I shall be buying this :D

Chris J

(0:43 AM, February 01, 2012)

I've been using snapsort to help with decisions on purchases. The major problem with doing that is the use of "popularity" as a criterion of quality. Really? Why would I care how many people in a country in which I don't live have bought a particular camera. That is a totally subjective statistic. We cannot know why they did that. We should rely upon objective evaluatuons to guide us, not a herd mentality. Please, please, please remove popularity from the point scoring system. I presently have to do that manually and re-score the cameras on objective parameters. Objectively the Pentax K-5 kills every pro-sumer DSLR and most of the Pro DSLRs as well. A review of the Pentax 645D would be nice if I ever decide to go crazy and buy a camera instead of a car; I may as well have what is apparently the best pro DSLR over the second-best Nikon.

Marco

(10:20 AM, January 21, 2012)

Some sites say 22 jpeg and 20 raw ...the delay between to continuous shooting sessions depend on how fast is your sd card (I think...)

Andrew O'Hara

(11:16 AM, January 20, 2012)

Hi,

I'm really interested in getting this but my worry is the high speed shooting and the buffer speed, as I will be mainly using it for fast sports. Like how many photos can you take in 7fps before she clogs up and once it does how long before I can shoot again? Is this even a good choice for sport photography?

Thanks for any help,
Andrew - Ireland

Mecloud

(4:42 AM, November 11, 2011)

I will go for Nikon or Canon. They have more complete range of lenses and accessories.

guest

(11:05 PM, November 07, 2011)

Uh, duh... Why would anyone compare ISO of a $1200 APS camera against a $2k+ Full frame?

Paurush Praveen

(6:20 PM, November 02, 2011)

I am confused between Pentax K5 and Nikon D5100, Getting lenses at reasonable price for Pentax is difficult (I want one prime lens ~50mm and one multipurpose (18-135 or 200mm)).
For D5100 I have no such problem Which way should I choose. Photography is my hobby I am not a professional photographer.

Rex Biggers

(3:48 PM, August 29, 2011)

Because they are carrying the water for Nikon

pilotmandan

(3:30 AM, August 25, 2011)

megapixels dont play a very big role in slr cameras. I can take pictures on my Nikon D1 (2.3 megapixels) and blow up poster prints crystal clear. Its all about the glass!

Snapsort

(1:52 AM, June 24, 2011)

Hi Naveen, yes I would recommend the K5 for that type of photography.

Regarding investing in a new system: have you considered Nikon or Canon? Given the # of lenses and bodies that they make and sell they would be the safest investment. That said, Pentax has been making lenses for a long time and I don't imagine they'll stop any time soon.

By the way, have you seen our sister site http://lenshero.com, it lets you browse lenses by camera and style, for example Pentax K-5 lenses.

Naveen Venkataraman

(10:01 PM, June 23, 2011)

I have a Oly E510 with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 kit lenses since 2007 and am considering the K5 as an upgrade option. I mainly shoot architecture, landscapes and indoor art galleries. Would you recommend the K5 for these uses?

Secondly, I'd like to have your thoughts about investing in the Pentax system, especially given that Olympus has discontinued its DSLRs. I am concerned about investing in a new body and lens system only to have it end soon.

Snapsort

(2:10 AM, June 03, 2011)

Its from Pentax's site, I think they say 740 with 50% flash, or 980 with no flash. http://www.pentaximaging.com/slr/K-5/

James McDonnell

(4:51 AM, May 23, 2011)

My Manual says it can get 980 Shots off a single charge.. Where is 740 shots from?

Bees

(1:35 AM, May 03, 2011)

guys saying Canon or nikons has more lenses available, i ask of you ,how many lenses do enthusiast really need? do you need a pair of 12-24 , two pairs of say 18-200 zoom lens etc etc .now think again, do volumes of available lenses for sale impresses you ...or thoses volumes that one company has to offer really matter when some are even redundant and not what you need or what you want is the newest models?.add this to the fact that every lens they provide has additional cost to every IS/VR system built in into the lens.
With Pentax SR shake reduction system built in the body, you can use every pentax lens produced without the additional cost of IS/VR built in the lenses . it even have backward compatibilty with 25+milllion available pentax lenses. what more can you ask?
DXo sensor mark rating gave the highest rating versus available competetitor to K5.
Dpreview gave the gold award to K5 over D7000 saying k5 is the Best APS-C DSLR in the market.

GuernyFermin

(9:40 AM, April 27, 2011)

The Nikon D7000 has better image quality, better Handling,better everything.. i Have been in the business for so many years and Nikon just gave it all this time.

Superb! Well-built and big time "Street Cred"

check my facebook account.

Gurney Fermin

Kohza

(9:56 PM, April 14, 2011)

That's good, no? Quality over quantity.

Guerney Fermin

(3:29 AM, April 11, 2011)

pentax K5 is not that accessible in terms of lenses and accessories. and i would rather be seen with a Nikon D7000 .

Snapsort

(4:37 PM, April 05, 2011)

The K-5 is a pretty impressive camera, it might be worth waiting for!

Lens

(9:41 PM, March 26, 2011)

I have the opportunity of buying a K-7 at a serious reduction (€ 750 coming from € 1050). Is that reduction worth the while to go for the K-7, or should I wait for the K-5 to drop in price somewhere the following months?

Peter

(0:05 AM, February 12, 2011)

Beautiful camera from my dreams. Unfortunatelly I cannot afford it at this time I am waiting till summer and I hope it will be cheaper up to this time.

Signosis

(0:30 AM, February 01, 2011)

Thanks for the quick reply.
Having looked at the comparison I guess my question was answered with a resounding "yes".
However the Alpha 700 was never over £1600, mine was £560 new two years ago.
Thanks again.

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Pentax K-5

Summary Pentax K-5

Replacement

reviewsWhat are people saying about the K-5

Videos

Pros

The Pentax K-5 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Cons

The Pentax K-5 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

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Discussion

Showing 25 comments