Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5
Entry-level DSLR Entry-level DSLR
September, 2010

Summary Pentax K-5

Prices Price
Body only $692 - $699 With 18-55mm lens $828 - $829
all K-5 prices
Score Snapsort rank
Within its price range #n/a of 11 Among similar cameras #n/a of 15
details details
Specifications Key specs
Sensor size Help APS-C 23.6x15.7mm Screen resolution Help 920k dots
Megapixels Help 16.1 MP Movie format Help 1080p @ 25fps
Screen size Help 3.0" Light sensitivity Help 12,800 ISO
see all specifications
Lenses Lenses
Browse all Pentax K-5 lenses at LensHero
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5

Replacement

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

Pentax K-5 IIs
Pentax K-5 IIs announced September, 2012
Battery life Longer battery life
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO

Compare the new Pentax K-5 IIs vs the K-5
Pentax K-5 II
Pentax K-5 II announced September, 2012
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Longer battery life

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

reviewsWhat are people saying about the K-5

"All of the major controls fall readily to hand."
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's button-layout
"One of the best APS-C DSLRs in terms of high ISO image quality"
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's iso-noise
"The Pentax K-5's compact, solid body, generally well thought-out ergonomics, comprehensive feature set and excellent image quality, in both still and movie modes make it one of the best APS-C DSLRs currently on the market."
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's overall-performance

Videos

Demonstration of the Pentax K5...

Pentax K-5 Review

A US Soldier demonstrates how ...
Demonstration of the Pentax K5 weather sealing
  • Review
  • Pro
  • Weather sealed
 Pentax K-5 Review
  • Review
  • Pro
  • Image quality
  • Weather sealed
 A US Soldier demonstrates how well Pentax stands up to Sand and Weather
  • Tutorial
  • Shooting video
  • Photography

Browse all Pentax K-5 videos

Pros

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

Low light performance Low noise at high ISO Help
1,162 ISO
Dynamic range Wide dynamic range Help
14.1 EV
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Shutter lag Short shutter lag Help
104 ms shutter lag
Viewfinder Doesn't use battery, see more detail Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Light sensitivity (boost) Very high boost light sensitivity Help
51,200 ISO
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Overall image quality Great overall image quality Help
82.0
Image stabilization Image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Sensor size Slightly larger than average sensor Help
APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
9
Battery life Above average battery life Help
740 shots
Size Quite small Help
Prosumer size 130x96x72 mm
Fastest shutter speed Fast shutter speed Help
1/8000 of a second

Cons

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

Autofocus Manual focus only Help
None
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available Help
90 lenses
Announced Old Help
September, 2010
Weight Very heavy Help
740 g
Popularity Not so popular Help
Among snapsort users
True resolution Lower true resolution Help
16.1 MP
Supports 24p No 24p movies Help
Missing that film look
Screen flips out Fixed screen Help
Less flexible
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Doesn't take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Appearance

front photo of the Pentax K-5back photo of the Pentax K-5angle photo of the Pentax K-5

Discussion What do you think about the Pentax K-5?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of this camera here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

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?
 
Avatar for Paurush Praveen 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.
 
Avatar for Rex Biggers 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!
 
Avatar for Snapsort 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.
 
Avatar for Naveen Venkataraman 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.
 
Avatar for Snapsort 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/
 
Avatar for James McDonnell 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 .
 
Avatar for Snapsort 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.