Pentax K-5 Review

Pentax K-5 Review

Reviewed by Mike Tomkins, Shawn Barnett and Zig Weidelich
Review posted: 04/11/2011

With a brand-new 16-megapixel sensor, seven frames per second burst rate, and an unusually wide expanded ISO sensitivity range of 80 to 51,200 equivalents, the Pentax K-5 takes over the flagship position in Pentax's APS-C digital SLR lineup, replacing 2009's K-7 model.

While it's nearly identical to its predecessor externally, the Pentax K-5 sports a number of under-the-skin improvements beyond those enabled by its updated CMOS image sensor, some of them seen previously in the recently-announced mid-range Pentax K-r DSLR.

The Pentax K-5 includes the latest generation of Pentax's SAFOX phase-detection autofocus module, which debuted in the 645D. The 11-point SAFOX IX+ module combines features of the SAFOX VIII+ module from the K-7, and the SAFOX IX module from the K-r, and is intended to yield improved low-light focusing, as well as more accurate and stable AF overall.

The Pentax K-5 also inherits the dual-axis level gauge function from the 645D, giving an indication of both side-to-side roll, and front-to-back pitch, where the K-7 offered only a single-axis roll gauge. The K-5 inherits its sensor shift stabilization system unchanged from the K-7. Uniquely able to correct for rotation around the lens barrel axis, the K-5's sensor shift mechanism also allows it to automatically correct for slightly tilted horizons at capture time.

Pentax has updated its high dynamic range mode in the K-5, enabling handheld HDR shooting, and providing a greater degree of control over the look of the HDR effect that can be achieved in-camera. Other creative additions include the latest Custom Image and Filter effects from the K-r, such as an overhauled Cross Process function, Bleach Bypass effect, and more.

Also updated is the Pentax K-5's movie recording function, which now captures videos at up to Full HD (1,080p) resolution, and like its predecessor, the K-5 still includes both an external stereo microphone jack, plus the ability to control the aperture used for video recording. For creative types, the Pentax K-5 now allows use of some of its filter effect functions during movie recording.

The Pentax K-5 uses Secure Digital memory cards (including the latest SDHC and SDXC types) for storage, with the SDXC support having arrived thanks to a firmware update released shortly after the camera shipped. All accessories compatible with the K-7, including Pentax's battery / portrait grip, tethered and infrared remotes, and lithium ion battery pack, will also work with the Pentax K-5, making it rather easier for current K-7 owners to justify upgrading to the newer model.

Available from October 2010, the Pentax K-5 comes body-only, or with a weather-sealed 18-55mm kit lens. Body-only pricing is set at around US$1,600, while the 18-55 WR kit costs about US$1,750.

A limited edition silver-bodied version of the K-5 is also available, featuring a reprofiled hand grip, and a shock-resistant and scratchproof reinforced glass cover over the rear LCD panel, in place of the plastic cover used for the standard K-5. In most other respects, the Pentax K-5 Limited Silver is identical to the black-bodied K-5. Pricing for the silver variant is set at around US$1,700.

Pentax K-5 User Report

by Mike Tomkins

With the introduction of its previous K-7 model, Pentax aimed to position itself as a leader in the rugged camera category, offering a camera that was well-sealed against the elements, but without the price tag and tank-like proportions of the typical professional SLR. Just a year later, though, Pentax found itself with burgeoning competition in the segment, with Nikon in particular clearly positioning its aggressively-priced D7000 to compete head-on with Pentax's flagship model. Pentax's design still had an edge in terms of compactness, and in its class-leading ability to keep shooting down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, but in other areas, the gauntlet had been laid down -- and it wasn't to take long for a response. Just days after Nikon launched the D7000 in the runup to the Photokina tradeshow in Cologne, Germany, Pentax brought forth their answer, in the form of the K-5.

Externally, the K-5 is nearly identical to its predecessor, with just a couple of subtle tweaks that only the keen-eyed will notice. That's no bad thing -- the K-7 had surprisingly good ergonomics given its compact size, and its handling earned pretty-much universal kudos among IR staffers. The real changes are all to be found under the skin, where the Pentax K-5 aims to improve performance in a number of specific areas. Key among these are a new image sensor, a refined phase detection autofocus module, improved burst-shooting speed, greatly expanded ISO sensitivity range, and improved high-def movie capture. There are also numerous smaller tweaks to features that carry over from the K-7, building on that camera's DNA, but making some very worthwhile improvements to its usability.

While the Pentax K-5 doesn't represent quite the same leap forwards as did the K-7 over Pentax's earlier K20D model, we must confess we're pleased to see the K-5 retaining its predecessor's heritage. If you've read our review of the K-7, though, our tour of the body design is definitely going to elicit a sense of deja vu...

The Pentax K-5's external dimensions are absolutely unchanged from those of the K-7, and although it's just ever so slightly lighter, only a weighing scale is going to pick up the difference. Built with a steel and polycarbonate chassis underlying a body that's largely sculpted out of magnesium alloy, the Pentax K-5 is just as tight and solid as its predecessor. Compared to the K-7, the Pentax K-5 weighs in at almost 0.4 ounces (10g) less, tipping the scales at just 26.1 ounces (740g) including battery and memory card. Exterior dimensions are 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.9 inches (130.5 x 96.5 x 72.5mm).

Compared to the competing Nikon D7000, Pentax's design features a lesser proportion of plastic on the outside, although both cameras mix metal and plastic underneath their skin. For the K-5, the only polycarbonate exterior panel is that which surrounds the LCD display and wraps part way around the camera's sides, while front, top, and bottom are all magnesium alloy. Nikon's camera, although it feels similarly sturdy in-hand, features magnesium alloy only on its top and rear panels, while front, sides and bottom are all polycarbonate-clad. If you extend the comparison to the optionally available portrait / battery grips for each camera, though, Pentax's D-BG4 grip is largely plastic with a metal top plate, while Nikon's grip is largely scuplted from magnesium alloy.

Readers with a keen eye for the details will doubtless already have picked up on at least one of the tweaks to the K-5's design in the photo above, but for mere mortals, we'll point it out nonetheless. ;-) The Mode dial is now around 1/16th of an inch (~2mm) taller, and has four rows of knurling, where previously there were three. While it's only a very slight change, if you compare the K-5's dial side-by-side with that on the K-7, it actually makes a surprising degree of difference to how easy it is to turn. It's a welcome change, given that the mode dial locks in position, and so requires a three-fingered grip to simultaneously press down the central lock release button while turning it. (Lockable Mode dials have been a source of debate in the IR offices of late, with some of us favoring them for their added security, and others preferring a standard Mode dial for the slight reduction in time taken to change operating modes.)

Unfortunately, Pentax hasn't yet taken our advice regarding its choice of strap attachments on the K-5, and remain one of several manufacturers still using tiny metal D-rings to interface between the camera body and strap. While the design perhaps has a slight advantage in terms of durability, and has something of a retro feel that nicely matches the look of the camera, there's a definite downside for videographers -- a market Pentax is clearly seeking to attract with the improved video capture functionality of the K-5. Metal-on-metal noise created with every movement of the strap transmits easily through the camera body, where it can be picked up by the internal microphone, leaving its imprint on the audio portion of your video clips. For this reason, we still prefer a more modern strap loop design, which allows a noise-free fabric-on-metal interface. While Pentax does include small leatherette pads that surround the D-rings (not shown in the image above), note that these aren't really designed to reduce the strap noise, but rather are intended to prevent the rings from leaving scratches on the camera body.

Seen from above, the Pentax K-5 is almost indistinguishable from its predecessor. Beyond the product branding, there's only one visual cue as to which camera you're looking at, and it's visible only when the camera is switched on, with the sensitivity set to ISO 10,000 equivalent or higher. Since the K-7 was limited to a maximum of ISO 6,400 equivalent even when using its expanded sensitivity range, a fifth digit was required to accommodate the K-5's available ISO sensitivities up to the 51,200 equivalent expanded maximum. Since there wasn't room to fit a whole extra digit without significantly rearranging the LCD panel, a half digit was added, and ISO sensitivities beyond ISO 8,000 all use half-sized 'zero' digits to match. (Of course, the very fact you were using an ISO sensitivity greater than 6,400 would in itself be a tipoff that you were shooting with the K-5...)

From the rear, the only clue that you're looking at the Pentax K-5 is the taller Mode dial, discussed previously. The rear-panel control layout is absolutely identical to the older camera, making it instantly familiar to K-7 owners stepping up to the new model. Despite packing in a large number of controls into a relatively compact body, everything is easy to reach, and very intuitive, once you've familiarized yourself with the camera's operation.

Since we published our earlier K-7 review, one slight change has been made to operation of the four-way controller when the AF-point switching dial is set to the 'SEL' position, and this carries over to the K-5. Where the original K-7 defaulted to selecting white balance, drive mode, custom image mode, and flash mode with the four-way controller buttons, the K-5 behaves in the same way as the K-7 does when upgraded to current firmware. Since using the 'SEL' mode indicates you're intended to manually change focus point location, the four-way controller instead defaults to this purpose, and you must briefly press and hold the 'OK' button to access the alternate button functions. (Unlike the K-7, the K-5 beeps when you change the button functions, though.)

Another point worthy of note is that the Pentax K-5 still includes an infrared receiver and self-timer lamp not only in its hand grip, but also a duplicate, rear-facing IR receiver and self-timer lamp to the right of the green button, a very helpful duplication when you're standing behind the camera, but want to avoid camera shake by shooting on a tripod.

Only two other external changes differentiate between the Pentax K-5 and its predecessor, and both can be seen in the view above. One of our favorite features on the K-7 was the Raw button, which drops you into Raw capture mode for one shot, or can be made to act as a toggle between Raw, JPEG, and Raw+JPEG capture. If that capability isn't of interest to you, though, you can now have this control serve instead as a Function (Fx) button, activating your choice of Exposure bracketing, Digital preview, Electronic level, and Composition correction. (A screen-printed 'Fx', below the button, indicates this change.) This is a very useful tweak for those of us who always shoot in one particular file format, and for whom this button was basically unused on the K-7, although we'd like to see Pentax allow users a greater number of functions from which to select their chosen assignment. In particular, we think it'd be very handy if it could be configured to serve as a secondary shutter button, allowing movie capture when in still image exposure modes, and vice versa. As is, that's not currently possible, though.

The last remaining tweak is much more subtle -- the focus mode selector dial has been redesigned, with the lever now both longer and taller, placed off center, and angled, all allowing much better leverage. Like the aforementioned tweak to the Mode dial, it's a subtle change that you'll only notice if you're looking very closely, but it makes a surprising degree of difference to how easy this dial is to locate and turn with the tip of a finger, especially without removing the viewfinder from your eye.

Sensor. The Pentax K-5 is based around a new 16.28 effective megapixel, APS-C sized (23.7 x 15.7mm), RGB CMOS image sensor, with a total resolution of 16.93 megapixels. The new chip increases linear resolution by a modest 5%, as compared to the 14.6 effective megapixel CMOS sensor that was featured in the K-7. It also has ever so slightly larger surface area, versus the previous 23.4 x 15.6mm chip. The new sensor design features on-chip analog-to-digital conversion, which has helped Pentax to reduce noise levels across the board.

The Pentax K-5 offers a maximum image resolution of 4,928 x 3,264 pixels, in place of the K-7's maximum size of 4,672 x 3,104 pixels. Three lower-resolution options are also available, all unchanged from the K-7 -- 3,936 x 2,624, 3,072 x 2,048, and 1,728 x 1,152 pixels.

Processor. Output from the Pentax K-5's new image sensor is processed by the same PRIME II (PENTAX Real Image Engine II) imaging engine that's previously been featured in the K-7, K-x, and K-r, but the combination offers significant improvements over the K-7 in terms of both sensitivity and burst speed. When it came to high ISO shooting, the K-7 was little changed from Pentax's earlier K20D model, with a standard sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 3,200 equivalents, which could be expanded to reach as high as ISO 6,400 equivalent. The Pentax K-5 provides a significantly wider standard range of ISO 100 to 12,800 equivalents, adjustable in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps. The expanded range goes even further, providing everything from an ISO 80-equivalent minimum to a maximum of ISO 51,200 equivalent.

An interesting feature of the Pentax K-5 is that noise reduction settings can be specified on a per-ISO basis -- at least, for full-stop ISO sensitivities. (The intermediate 1/2 stop or 1/3 stop sensitivities, if enabled, share a setting with the full-stop sensitivity immediately below them.) That is to say, you could for example set one specific ISO sensitivity to use higher noise reduction than those surrounding it, and as you switch between those sensitivities in future, the camera will remember those preferences. This provides a rare level of user control over the tradeoff between noise levels and subject detail across the sensitivity range.

There is two things worth noting, both related to Bulb-mode exposures. Although the available ISO sensitivity range has expanded greatly since the K-7, bulb mode exposures still face the same maximum sensitivity limitation of ISO 1,600 equivalent. However, Pentax has made another change that will doubtless prove very popular with astrophotographers, who frequently shoot extremely long bulb exposures. Where the K-7 used dark frame noise subtraction on all exposures over 30 seconds in length, the K-5 now allows dark frame subtraction to be disabled entirely, regardless of exposure length. When one considers that dark frame subtraction requires a second dark frame exposure (captured with the shutter closed) that has roughly equal duration to the actual exposure, this change will greatly reduce the time spent waiting for the K-5 to return to life after long bulb exposures..

Burst speed. The improvement in burst speed, while perhaps not as big a step forward as that made in terms of sensitivity, is still very worthwhile -- and thankfully, it no longer comes accompanied by a reduction in burst depth. (When the K-5 first hit the market, early firmware had a burst depth limit of just eight raw frames -- slightly over half the burst depth of its predecessor, and likewise bested by the mid-range Pentax K-r model. With firmware v1.01 installed, the K5 is now capable of as many as 20 frames in a single burst, restoring the rightful order of things inside the company's own APS-C lineup, with the K5 earning its flagship status by handily besting its siblings.

Perhaps more importantly, the updated firmware placed the K-5 ahead of a couple of important rivals from other manufacturers in terms of burst performance. In our own testing, we found the K-5 capable of 23 .DNG format, 14-bit Raw frames, 31 large/premium JPEGs, or 22 DNG+large/premium JPEG frames, at a rate of 6.5 frames per second. While that doesn't quite meet the advertised 7 frames per second rate, it bests Nikon's D7000 slightly in terms of burst speed, and significantly when considering burst depth, with the D7000 managing 5.9 fps in our own testing, for up to 10 .NEF 14-bit Raw, 19 large/fine JPEG, or 10 Raw+JPEG frames. Canon's EOS 60D, meanwhile, betters the K-5's large/fine JPEG burst depth at 34 frames, but trails slightly in 14-bit .CR2 Raw shooting with a 15-frame depth, and lags a long way behind in Raw+JPEG with a depth of just 7 frames. This, despite having the slowest burst shooting rate of the group, at 5.3 frames per second.

It's only one metric, of course, but nonetheless impressive to see Pentax now offering not only a higher burst speed, but also a greater burst depth than the two cameras likely to be considered direct rivals by many potential customers. (Note that all of our lab figures below are set with a difficult-to-compress target image, and so in the real world, burst depths will likely be somewhat higher with all three cameras.)

For subjects where a little less speed is required, the K-5's Continuous Lo mode captures Best-quality JPEG images at a rather sedate 1.6 frames per second for as long as there's available card space. This reduced rate is significantly slower than the 3.3 frames-per-second Continuous Lo burst shooting available in the K-7, and frankly, we'd like to see Pentax offer the ability to select from additional burst shooting rates between its existing extremes. There's simply too much of a gap between the Continuous Hi and Continuous Lo speeds, and as a result, we found we frequently tended to leave the camera set to Continuous Hi mode all the time during burst shooting.

Shake Reduction. Pentax has retained the K-7's in-body stabilization system unchanged for its follow-up camera. The K-5's image sensor assembly is mounted on a ball-bearing supported moveable platter, allowing for sensor-shift image stabilization -- which Pentax brands Shake Reduction -- compatible with all Pentax interchangeable lenses produced to date. The Pentax K-5 shares the K-7's unique ability to correct not only for horizontal and vertical motion, but also for rotation around the axis of the lens barrel. Two degrees of rotational correction on either side of the central position is possible, and Pentax is claiming 2.5 to 4 stops of correction can be derived from its sensor shift system. (Though we'd earlier reported that rotational correction was a feature of Shake Reduction back to the K100D, Pentax later informed us that this was a misunderstanding resulting from a translation error back in 2006).

The drawback to Pentax's Shake Reduction technology is that you can't see its effects as you look through the optical viewfinder, as you can with Canon and Nikon's lens-based stabilization systems. But thanks to the Pentax K5's Live View mode, you can indeed see the effect on the LCD, and SR seems to be pretty solid and effective.

Dust removal. The Pentax K-5 also includes Pentax's DR II dust removal system, which has previously featured in the K-7 and 645D models. Where other Pentax DSLRs rely on the sensor shift mechanism to remove dust from the sensor -- rather ineffectively according to our tests -- the K-5's DR II system includes a piezo-ceramic element to vibrate the low-pass filter. A dust alert system can check for the presence of dust on the low-pass filter, at the user's prompting.

Lens mount. On its front panel, the Pentax K-5 features a K_AF2 Lens mount, which is also compatible with K_AF3, K_AF, and K_A mount lenses. Both in-body and in-lens AF mechanisms are supported, as is power zoom with compatible lenses. Pentax K mount lenses can also be attached, as can 35mm screwmount and 645/67 medium format lenses using optional adapters, although there may be restrictions depending on the lens type used.

Lens distortion correction. The Pentax K-5 can correct for lens distortion and lateral chromatic aberration in-camera when using DA and DFA lenses, as well as with several of the company's FA Limited lenses. It's a feature that was fairly unusual when the previous K-7 model was introduced, but which has gradually become more commonplace. When enabled, these corrections do have a significant negative impact on burst shooting speed, but if you shoot in Raw mode, you can choose to apply the correction after the fact, and so needn't worry about enabling the corrections pre-capture.

Autofocus. Pentax has also upgraded the K-5's autofocus system to its latest SAFOX IX-series module, a designation which has only previously been applied to the company's medium format 645D and K-r models. Compared to the previous-generation SAFOX VIII+ system used in the K-7, SAFOX IX+ has the same point count and arrangement, but several important differences. There are a total of eleven points, of which all but two are cross-type, sensitive to both horizontal and vertical detail. The cross-type points are arranged in a three by three grid towards the center of the image frame, while on either side of this grid there's one linear sensor.

The SAFOX IX+ AF module's optics have improved transparency, along with better controlled aberration, two changes which translates to noticeably improved performance and accuracy in low light. Although we don't currently have a test for this, ambient temperature is also said by the company to have less of an impact on the SAFOX IX+ module. Sharp-eyed readers will note that the K-5's SAFOX module adds the "+" designation, which has only previously been featured in the 645D and K-7. This hints at one important feature that's included in the prosumer K-5, but not in the mid-range K-r. Like the K-7 and 645D models before it, the Pentax K-5's AF system includes a secondary light color sensor dedicated to determining the light source type, which is then taken into account when determining focus, a capability the K-5's more affordable sibling lacks.

Beyond the change of phase detection module, Pentax has made several other important changes to autofocus in the K-5. The K-7's somewhat fiddly focus mode selection dial has been redesigned for better leverage, and is now much easier to adjust without removing your eye from the viewfinder. Pentax has also incorporated the 5-point selection mode from the K-x and K-r models, which mirrors the point arrangement of earlier models such as the K2000 / K-m. Perhaps most importantly, though, Pentax has added the ability to select the priority for single and continuous focus modes. For single AF, K-5 users can opt for either focus priority, which mirrors the K-7's behavior in requiring an AF lock before the shutter can fire, or shutter-release priority, which starts exposure immediately that the shutter button is fully depressed, even if an AF lock hasn't been achieved. In continuous AF mode, the options are focus priority, or frame rate priority. The former requires an AF lock for each individual frame in the burst, while the latter replicates the K-7's behavior by emphasizing frame rate for each shot in the burst, even if this means a lock can't be achieved for individual frames in the burst.

Metering. Automatic exposure is achieved courtesy of the same 77-segment metering sensor that debuted in the K-7, replacing Pentax's previous 16-segment metering system. Options include Matrix, Center-weighted, and Spot metering, selectable via the switch beneath the Mode dial. A full 5.0EV of exposure compensation is available in either 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps.

Exposure Modes. Exposure modes in the Pentax K-5 include Green (fully automatic), Manual, Bulb, Shutter- and Aperture-priority, and a Hyper Program mode which allows shutter or aperture to be instantly adjusted around a predetermined Program exposure. The Pentax K-5 also allows you to select, via a custom menu, the program line the camera uses, which tells the camera to prioritize for higher shutter speeds, shallow or deep depth-of-field, MTF (best aperture setting for image quality), or to use the default, normal program line. There's also Sensitivity Priority, plus Shutter-and-Aperture Priority, where the user defines both shutter speed and aperture, and the camera selects an appropriate sensitivity. Finally, a User mode allows settings to be saved for later reuse -- and this has been updated from that in the Pentax K-7. Where previously only one group of settings could be saved, the K-5 will now allow five different settings groups to be noted for future recall, and each can be given a unique name as a memory aid. Since there's still only one User position on the Mode dial, the choice of which user preset to apply is made through the K-5's menu system.

Drive Modes. In addition to the previously described 7 frames-per-second Continuous Hi and 1.6 fps Continuous Lo modes, the Pentax K-5 offers a variety of other drive mode options. These include the ability to bracket multiple exposures with anywhere up to 2.0 EV between each exposure, set in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps. Where the K-7 allowed either 3 or 5 exposures in each bracketed sequence, the K-5 now also allows two-frame bracketed exposures (with the ability to choose whether the extra frame should be over- or underexposed, with respect to the metered exposure). To prevent vibration issues in long exposures, the Pentax K5 offers a mirror lockup function that also functions during continuous shooting in Live View mode. The K-5 also includes a 2 and 12-second self-timer, with self-timer indicator LEDs provided on both the front and back of the camera.

There are also several remote control modes, taking advantage of the optional cabled or infrared remote units, and again, there are infrared receivers both on the front and rear of the K-5. Remote modes include standard remote shooting, remote with a three-second delay, and continuous burst remote capture, and in addition, you can also set bracketed or mirror lockup exposures to be initiated with the remote control. Two infrared remote control units are compatible with the K-5: the tiny Remote Control F, and the larger (but waterproof) Remote Control WP. The former has only one button, which trips the shutter (optionally, after performing an AF operation), functioning identically with both cameras. The Remote Control WP, though, has an added advantage beyond its waterproofing, if you're a K-5 owner. The only button that functions when used with the K-7 is the orange shutter release (which again, can also be configured to first perform an AF operation). With the K-5, though, on top of this behavior, the Remote Control WP's Zoom button serves as an autofocus button, effectively decoupling AF and shutter operation. This helpfully lets you prep focus ahead of tripping the shutter release, so you can be confident you've left enough time to complete focusing before you want to trip the shutter.

Shutter. Like that in the K-7, the Pentax K-5's shutter unit is capable of a maximum 1/8,000 second shutter speed, and has a rated lifetime of 100,000 cycles. Minimum shutter speed is 30 seconds, and a Bulb position is also available. Note, though, that Bulb exposures are limited to ISO 1,600 max. As mentioned previously, they no longer are required to have dark frame subtraction on exposures over 30 seconds, though.

White balance. The K-5 offers a wide range of white balance settings: as well as Automatic and Manual modes, there are no less than ten white balance presets (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Daylight Color Fluorescent, Daylight White Fluorescent, Cool White Fluorescent, Warm White Fluorescent, Tungsten, Flash, and Color Temperature Enhancement). This last option is used to retain and enhance the lighting tone - for example, to enhance a sunset. White balance can also be measured from a neutral target -- either by capturing a new image, or selecting an existing one on the K-5's flash card -- and a specific color temperature can also be manually dialed in, using either Kelvin or Mired values. Where the K-7 only had four custom white balance storage positions (one for a measured white balance, and three for kelvin / mired white balance), the K-5 now has three storage positions for each white balance type, for a total of six custom white balance values stored in-camera.

Flash. As well as a hot shoe and PC socket for external flash and studio lighting connection, the Pentax K-5 includes a built-in popup flash. Rated at 13 meters / ISO 100, the K-5's onboard flash is unchanged from that of the K-7, and offers 28mm coverage plus red-eye removal capability. The K-5 still has X-sync at 1/180 second, offers -2 to +1EV of flash exposure compensation, and can offer both first- and second-curtain flash.  In Wireless mode, the built-in flash can be used as a controller to multiple wireless slave flashes (including the Pentax AF540FGZ and/or AF360FGZ flash units). The built-in flash can be set to contribute to the exposure, or to act only as a controller. The Pentax wireless flash system offers four control channels, so up to four camera/flash setups can be used in the same area without interfering with each other.

Viewfinder. Pentax has retained the K-7's glass prism-type TTL optical viewfinder unchanged for its new flagship Pentax K-5 model. This viewfinder offers a 100% field of view and 0.92x magnification. Four interchangeable focusing screens are available, with the default being the same Natural-Bright-Matte III screen that came bundled with the K-7. The K5's viewfinder offers -2.5 to +1.5 diopter adjustment to cater for eyeglass wearers, and has an eyepoint of 21.7mm from the eyepiece frame, or 24.5mm from the exit pupil. The only difference in the viewfinder is the addition of an extra half digit on the ISO sensitivity portion of the viewfinder info display, mirroring the change made to the top-panel LCD display, and catering for the much greater ISO sensitivity range of the K-5 versus its predecessor.

LCD. Also carried over unchanged from the K-7's design is the Pentax K5's 3.0-inch LCD display, which offers 921,000 dots of resolution. This equates to an array of roughly 640 x 480 pixels, with each pixel comprising separate red, green, and blue dots. The display is an in-plane switching TFT type, which offers wide 170 degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles, and includes an anti-reflective coating. Depth-of-field preview is possible in both the optical viewfinder and on the LCD display. If you opt for the limited edition Pentax K-5 Limited Silver, the LCD panel is overlaid with a scratchproof, shock-resistant hardened glass cover plate, rather than the plastic cover plate of the standard K-5.

Live View. Although the basic operation of the Pentax K-5's live view mode is little-changed from that of the K-7, there are a few tweaks that make it generally more cohesive experience. The Live View menu has been reordered so as to place more frequently accessed items at the top of the list, as well as increasing the size of the icons for those items that don't have a simple on/off checkbox. Autofocus methods include a choice of either contrast detection AF or phase detection AF, and provides face detection capable of recognizing up to 16 individual faces in a scene when using the former. When in live view mode, the display can be magnified from two to six times if using autofocus, up to a maximum of 10x magnification in manual focus mode. During AF operations, the camera automatically zooms in on the active AF point, a function that's something of a mixed blessing. It's great for giving an intuitive view of where the point of focus lies in relatively static scenes, but makes it very difficult to frame moving subjects in live view mode, and unfortunately this AF zoom can't be disabled -- even when using functions such as Continuous AF that would imply you're shooting a moving subject.

Just like in the K-7, optional histogram and over / underexposure highlight displays are available in live view mode, as well as a grid display function. There is now a choice of three grid overlays, two more than in the K-7. Additional grid displays in the Pentax K-5's live view mode include a scale display, and a rule-of-thirds / golden section overlay, both useful for precise image alignment.

Movie mode. The Pentax K-5 has several changes to its Movie mode, compared to the K-7. The previous model's non-standard high-definition resolution of 1,536 x 1,024 pixels has been replaced by a standard 1,920 x 1,080 pixel, 25 frames-per-second mode, commonly known as "Full HD" or "1080p". The K-7's alternate 720p (1,280 x 720 pixel) high-def mode is retained, while the non-standard 640 x 416 pixel mode has been replaced with a standard-def VGA (640 x 480 pixel) mode. The 720p and VGA modes both offer a choice of either 25 or 30 frames per second recording, but note that there's no 30fps option in Full HD shooting. All three types are recorded using Motion JPEG compression, in an AVI container. Maximum clip length is 25 minutes or 4GB, whichever limit is reached first, but given the huge file sizes for high-def video, there's realistically little chance of reaching the time limit without exceeding a 4GB file size even in 720p mode, let alone 1080p. Like competing DSLRs, the Pentax K-5 also monitors sensor temperature during recording, and will halt capture if the temperature rises beyond a certain threshold.

Like that in the Pentax K-7, the K-5's movie mode still doesn't offer autofocus during movie recording, unlike competing cameras from the likes of Canon and Nikon. It also lacks manual control of movie exposure, offering only a choice of Program or Aperture-priority exposure modes for movie shooting. It does, however, allow exposure compensation and autoexposure lock, which can be used together with aperture-priority mode to provide some control over the look of videos. The ultimate decision as regards frame rate and ISO sensitivity is always left in the camera's hands, though. Note that in Aperture-priority movie shooting, the aperture is fixed from the start of video recording. Movie audio is recorded either from an internal monaural microphone, or from an external mic via a 3.5mm stereo jack. As with the K-7, the Pentax K-5 offers no manual control over audio levels during recording. Audio capture can, if desired, be disabled altogether.

Like the recently-announced K-r, the Pentax K-5 also now allows use of some of the company's various filter functions when recording movies, including Cross Processing, Toy Camera, Retro, High-Contrast, Extract Color, and Color. Unlike those offered by some competing cameras, these don't seem to impact frame rate of captured movie clips, or at least, not substantially so.

The Pentax K-5 also includes limited in-camera movie editing functionality, something that wasn't present in the K-7 at launch, but was later made available via a firmware update. It's possible to specify start or end points in a video clip, and then split the file at those points, providing the ability to record for a little longer than necessary so as to be sure you don't miss the action, without then wasting valuable storage space storing the unwanted portions of the video. This is perhaps more important for the K-5 than some competing cameras, given its choice of the relatively less space-efficient Motion JPEG compression. In addition, you can extract still frames from movie clips, which is certainly enough for many web / social media uses, and might sometimes be enough to provide reasonable 4" x 6" prints, given that the Full HD mode equates to a resolution of roughly two megapixels. If you're not confident of your timing (even bearing in mind the speedy burst shooting), and you don't need high resolution, this could prove a lifesaver for capturing fleeting moments.

Dual-axis level gauge. The Pentax K-5's leveling sensor is upgraded from that in the K-7, matching the capabilities of the company's medium format Pentax 645D. Instead of the K-7's single-axis roll sensor, the K-5 sports dual-axis (side-to-side roll and front-to-back pitch) sensors, enabling the camera to be leveled on both axes. (By way of comparison, Nikon's D7000 only has a single-axis roll sensor, but Canon's 60D has dual-axis sensors like those of the K-5). Note that while the K-5 can display the roll level on both the viewfinder and top panel status displays, as well as the rear LCD panel, the pitch level can only be displayed on the rear panel. Unlike some competing cameras, you can't calibrate the tilt sensors manually.

Composition correction. One of the more unusual features of the K-7 is retained for the Pentax K-5, and relies on its sensor-shift image stabilization mechanism. When shooting on a tripod, it is possible to fine-tune your framing by manually controlling the position and rotation of the image sensor. Like the K-7, with Shake Reduction enabled, a total of two degrees rotation and three millimeters of horizontal or vertical adjustment (one degree and 1.5mm on either side of the centered position) are available. If the sensor is tilted, the available horizontal / vertical adjustment range may be reduced by as much as 1mm on either side of the centered position, potentially restricting the adjustment range to 2mm total on either axis.

Self-leveling function. Also thanks to the sensor-shift mechanism and internal roll sensor, the K-5 also offers an electronic level function that actually rotates the sensor to a level position when enabled. As with the K-7, this system can correct for errors of one degree in either direction if Shake Reduction is enabled. Unlike the earlier camera, though, if you disable Shake Reduction, you double the level of correction possible to two degrees in either direction.. Like the K7 before it, the Pentax K5 performs this unique trick whether framing portrait or landscape-orientation shots, although the function is automatically disabled if the camera is tilted forwards / backwards beyond a certain threshold.

Connectivity. Interface options in the Pentax K-5 are unchanged since the K-7, and include high definition mini-HDMI video output, standard definition NTSC / PAL switchable composite video output, and USB 2.0 high speed data connectivity. Unfortunately, like the K-7 before it, the Pentax K-5 lacks any official, Pentax-authorized tethered shooting capability, a feature that was present on the company's earlier flagship models. However, a third party solution now exists that provides tethered shooting support for the K-5, K-7, K-r, K-x, and several other of Pentax's historic SLR models. Dubbed 'PK_Tether', this doesn't allow a remote live view feed, but it does allow a variety of camera settings including all the main exposure variables to be changed remotely, both autofocus and shutter to be triggered from the attached PC, and full resolution images to be downloaded directly to the PC's hard drive, providing a viable tethered shooting solution for studio use. Developed by Polish electronics engineer Tomasz Kos, PK_Tether isn't officially approved by Pentax, and is still relatively early in its development process, but we've found it to be a very useful tool for Pentax shooters. With all this said, we'd still like to see Pentax offer an official tethered shooting solution for its cameras, given that the hardware is clearly capable of this.

There's also an 8.3 volt DC input, a terminal for the wired CS-205 cable release, a PC sync terminal for external flash strobes, a 3.5mm stereo microphone jack for recording movie audio from an external microphone, and a proprietary contact on the camera's base for an optional battery / portrait grip, which accepts the same D-BG4 model that was used with the earlier Pentax K-7. The Pentax K-5 also includes two infrared remote receivers -- one each on the front and rear of the camera body, allowing for the shutter to be released wirelessly from most angles, using the optional Remote Control F, or the waterproof Remote Control WP (aka O-RC1) remote. The latter allows not only shutter operation, but also provides for autofocus operation via a separate button when used with the K-5; this feature doesn't work with the earlier K-7.

Power. The Pentax K-5 accepts the exact same D-LI90 lithium ion battery pack as its predecessor, the K-7. The D-LI90 is a 7.2V pack rated at 1,860 mAh / 14Wh. Battery life is rated at 980 shots without flash usage, 740 shots with 50% flash usage, or 440 minutes of playback on a charge -- unchanged from the figures for the K-7 despite the increased resolution and burst rate. For studio shooting, or while offloading data via USB, the K-5 can also draw power from Pentax's K-AC50 AC adapter.

Battery grip. The D-BG4 battery grip for the Pentax K5 is the same model compatible with the K7, and comes with two trays -- one for six AA batteries, and one for a single D-LI90 battery. The K5's battery grip transfers power through a dedicated, proprietary connection, so you can leave a battery in the camera to double the battery life, and needn't fiddle to remove the battery door, as in some competing designs that use a dummy battery. While this design is nice because you don't have to worry about the cumbersome tower that goes up into the battery compartments of other camera designs, you will have to remove the entire grip to change the K7's internal battery. (Of course, you can leave the internal battery compartment empty, and simply place your battery pack in the portrait grip, so this is of little import in real-world use unless you intend to use both battery bays simultaneously.)

The D-BG4 is weather sealed like the camera body, although rather than the magnesium build of the body itself, the grip is largely made from plastic, with a metal top plate. (By contrast, Nikon's portrait grip for the D7000 is largely crafted from magnesium alloy). Pentax's portrait grip duplicates several controls from the camera's main interface, including the shutter release, front and rear e-dials, the AE-Lock, and the AF button, and while the control size / layout isn't identical to those on the camera body, it's similar enough to retain familiarity. There's also an On/Off switch, which controls not the camera body, but rather the portrait grip's controls. The D-BG4 also includes an insert in which to store the protective caps from the body and grip terminals when in use, and the lithium ion battery tray further includes space to store a spare SD card inside the grip. (Sadly, it lacks the space from Pentax's earlier grips in which the tiny Remote Control F could be stored.)

Storage. Similarly to the recently-announced K-r, the Pentax K-5 supports not only Secure Digital and SDHC memory cards, but also supports the latest generation SDXC cards if running current firmware. (The initial firmware release didn't include this support). Note, though, that this support is for the extended capacity of SDXC cards, which are already available in significantly higher capacities than their other SD brethren. The Pentax K-5 doesn't gain any benefit from high speed UHS-type SDXC cards. With that said, use of SDHC Class 6 or higher cards is recommended for video capture, or shooting high-speed still image bursts. Lower-speed cards can be used, but may reduce the movie clip length or still image buffer depth.

Although dual media slots are becoming somewhat more common these days, the Pentax K-5 only has a single card slot, like its predecessor. One other storage-related change is that the Pentax K-5 now uses 14-bit raw files for both Adobe DNG and Pentax PEF raw formats, rather than the 12-bit files of previous Pentax digital SLRs.

Helpfully, given the lack of official tethered shooting capability in the K-5, it does support Eye-Fi's WiFi-capable Secure Digital cards. While not as fast as a USB 2.0 tether, the feature does at least provide an officially approved means to get data off the camera in studio shooting without having to repeatedly swap cards around. Unlike Pentax's current compact cameras, the K-5 isn't an Eye-Fi Connected device, and so doesn't provide the ability to adjust card settings, etc. in-camera. Instead, setup must be done first on your computer -- but once that's been done, the K-5 can transmit JPEG and raw data wirelessly to your PC, either with a backup on the Eye-Fi card, or deleting data from the card when it's been successfully transmitted.

Custom image modes. The majority of other differences between the Pentax K-5 and its predecessor are also found in its firmware functionality. Pentax has added an additional custom image mode to the existing eight found in the latest K-7 firmware, emulating the look of Bleach Bypass images. Even if you've not previously heard the term, it's likely you're familiar with the effect, as bleach bypass has been a popular technique in the movie industry for many years. With film, the effect was achieved by skipping or abbreviating the bleaching stage of processing, leaving some silver in the emulsion alongside the color dyes. The effect is a grainy, high-contrast look with reduced saturation and exposure latitude.

Filters. There are also two new Playback-mode filter functions not found in the K-7, both of which debuted in the recent K-r, and whose effects are self-explanatory. The sketch filter mimics the look of a hand-drawn image, while the posterization filter causes abrupt transitions in tone. The color extraction filter has also been updated, and now allows two color ranges to be highlighted in an image, with colors outside these ranges desaturated.

Cross Process. The Pentax K-5 also inherits an updated version of the cross-process function that debuted in the K-x, which is intended to offer a similar effect to the film processing technique. Cross processing of film involves intentionally using processing chemicals with a film type for which they weren't intended, with unpredictable but sometimes eyecatching effect. In the K-x, the function -- accessed through its own option in the record menu, rather than as a filter or custom image mode -- could only be switched on and off, and yielded a random effect that couldn't be previewed ahead of time. In the Pentax K-5, it's still possible to use the cross process function in this manner, but there are also three preset cross process modes that offer a consistent look from shot to shot. In addition, there are three user favorite presets, which allows the look to be tailored to the photographer's needs. These can't be directly configured -- instead, you copy the settings from an earlier image, so you'll need to shoot with the random filter until you get an effect you like, before copying the settings used to the cross process preset.

HDR. The Pentax K-5 also updates the high dynamic range function that debuted in the K-7, and was retained for the K-x. HDR photography allows capture of images with greater dynamic range than the sensor is capable of detecting, by taking multiple images with varied exposure, and then combining them to produce a single shot with increased dynamic range. Since it involves multiple exposures, it's only useful for relatively static subjects. At the time of the K-7's launch, the feature was unique in the digital SLR market, but it's since been mirrored -- and improved upon -- by rivals.

As in the recent K-r announcement, the K-5's HDR function includes several changes. The most significant of these is that the K-r now microaligns images before combining them, making it possible to shoot handheld HDRs. (Previously, even a slight camera movement would cause artifacts throughout the image, rendering it unusable -- and hence HDR mode was limited to tripod use.) The K-5 now has Auto, Standard, and three Strong effect modes, providing further control over the look of the HDR effect applied.

Time-lapse. Pentax has retained the time lapse mode from the K-7, and the camera can also shoot multiple exposures with an overlay of the previous image on the LCD to assist in alignment. Unlike that of the K-7, which was limited to just 99 shots, the K-5 will now allow as many as 999 shots in a single time lapse burst, if card space and power allow. However, it's worth noting that with an expected shutter life of 100,000 shots, it's now possible to use up as much as 1% of your shutter life in a single burst, and so you may want to consider the implications carefully before taking advantage of this change.

Copyright. Another K-7 feature retained for the K-5 allows you to specify a copyright holder for storage in the EXIF header of photographs. This is entered via the camera's menu system, unlike some competing cameras, which require it to be set via an attached computer.

Software. The Pentax K-5 ships with a newer version of Pentax's software CD than that included with the K-7. Where the previous model included the S-SW90 CD, the K-5 now ships with the S-SW110 disc. The actual software bundle is unchanged, and still includes Pentax's Silkypix-derived Digital Camera Utility 4 package. The newer version of the CD simply includes more current versions of the software with support for the latest Pentax DSLR bodies and lenses

Pricing for the Pentax K-5 is set at approximately US$1,600 for the camera body alone, and the camera began shipping in the US market from October 2010. In addition, a kit bundle with the 18-55mm WR lens will also be available, priced at about US$1,750, and a limited edition K-5 Limited Silver version, featuring a reprofiled hand grip and a shock-resistant and scratchproof reinforced glass cover over the rear LCD panel, can be purchased for around US$1,700.

New lens. Alongside the launch of the camera, Pentax also announced another new WR lens, bringing the total number of the company's weather-resistant consumer lenses to four models. The smc PENTAX-DA18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR lens has a built-in Direct Current autofocus motor which operates near-silently, and a focus ring that doesn't move during AF operation. Pricing for this lens is set at US$530, and it also shipped from October 2010.

In addition to its WR lens models, note that all six lenses in Pentax's current DA * lineup are weather-sealed. This means that K-5 owners have a total of ten lenses from which to choose, all including weather sealing matching that of their camera body. (Of course, in most conditions you can also use non-sealed lenses with the K-5 body, but these could potentially allow dust and water to enter the camera body if used in adverse conditions.).

Pentax K-5 Field Test

by Mike Tomkins

A little under two years ago, we published our review of the original Pentax K-7, a groundbreaking model for the company, which focused on jamming as many features as possible -- some of them unique -- into a body that was reasonably trim even by consumer DSLR standards, and decidedly compact when compared to competing weatherproof, magnesium-bodied SLRs. In the interests of full disclosure, let's confess at the get-go -- I switched to Pentax and purchased a K-7 myself just a few weeks later, having come away extremely impressed both by that camera's feature set, and its ergonomics. That's not to say it was perfect, but it ticked many of the boxes most important to me.

In the ~18 months that I've spent with the K-7, I've found myself remaining quite satisfied with my choice, on balance, but I've also found a few interface quirks, and have often wished for an improvement in both high ISO capability, and perhaps more importantly, in dynamic range. I'm now almost exclusively a .DNG raw shooter, except for throwaway shots, and I appreciate as much latitude as possible to recover blown highlights and blocked-up shadows caused by my own occasional photographic misadventures. Dynamic range was one area in particular where the original K-7 -- while not terrible -- was perhaps not quite up to the same level as the rest of the camera.

When I learned of the upcoming release of the Pentax K-5, you can be sure I was at the front of the line to ensure that once it reached in our offices, the camera landed on my desk. As you can see, I made the right noises, and I've since enjoyed a number of weeks with my poor daily shooter languishing in semi-retirement, while I was out and about with the K-5 in hand. With the two cameras being so nearly identical in terms of body design, it was as an incredibly comfortable transition. All my K-7's accessories work with the Pentax K-5, which is potentially a huge bonus for anyone in my shoes, pondering the upgrade -- and I'll admit, I've definitely been considering doing just that, in these past weeks.

At 6' 1" tall, I have fairly large hands, but I've always found the original K-7 to be an exceptionally comfortable camera to shoot with, regardless of whether or not I've had my D-BG4 portrait / battery grip mounted. Barring the noise-inducing neckstrap D-rings that we've mentioned in so many reviews of cameras from Pentax and its rivals, there's not a lot I'd have changed about the K-7's body design. Shooting on a cold and drizzly day at the launch of a new tourist attraction in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains earlier this year, I did find myself wishing that the Focus Mode dial and AF Point Switching dial were just a little easier to adjust, though, as neither presents a lot of purchase for slippery, numb fingers. While the latter control is unchanged, Pentax have answered at lease one of my prayers with an updated Focus Mode lever that --while it looks only slightly different -- now provides much better leverage. They've also changed the K-5's Mode dial, with which I must admit I'd not noticed any particular issues on my K-7. Having shot with both cameras side by side, though, I don't think I'd want to return to the earlier design. Again, it's a tiny change, but actually makes a surprisingly big difference to how easy the dial is to turn.

Environment-proof. One of the most important features that attracted me to the original Pentax K-7 was its thorough environmental sealing. I wanted a camera that I could take anywhere, focusing on my shooting, and confident in the knowledge that if I could handle the weather, my camera surely could too. I'm glad I made that decision, because while I've yet to go far beyond freezing, I've taken advantage of the K-7's water resistant body quite a few times. There are quite a few weather-sealed SLRs on the market, but before the K-7, they'd largely been marketed towards professionals and those with deep pockets. Where Pentax's solution differed was in the availability of affordable, weather-sealed lenses, each being a variant of an existing product from the company's consumer lens lineup. This lowered the bar to entry, making it possible for mere mortals to afford an environmentally sealed system from day one, with room to grow from the consumer-oriented lenses to more sophisticated models in the future. The K-7 also offered class-leading ability to shoot in sub-freezing conditions, with a design allowing use in temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C).

The Pentax K-5 retains the exact same level of weather-sealing and freeze-proofing as its predecessor, with weather seals throughout the camera body, and also in its optional D-BG4 portrait / battery grip. Of course, it's compatible with the same selection of weather-sealed lenses, as well. Currently, there's a selection of four 'WR'-branded lens models -- three consumer zooms, and a 100mm macro prime -- plus the entire range of DA * lenses, each of which includes full weather sealing. This is now extended to the remote control as well, thanks to compatibility with the same waterproof remote control introduced with the Optio W90 compact, leaving external flash as the most important area where Pentax has yet to offer a weather-sealed solution.

Shake reduction. One of the first things that struck me when shooting with the Pentax K-5 was completely unexpected. I'm a big fan of Pentax's in-body Shake Reduction, especially now that Sigma offers some stabilized lenses in Pentax K-mount form, letting me choose which stabilization system to use depending on the merits of either for any given shot. (In-body stabilization saves cost and ensures that all my glass is stabilized, but in-lens IS seems to me to offer better results at longer focal lengths.)

Something it took me a little while to realize with my own K-7, though, is that the stabilization system doesn't fire up instantly. It takes a little while for the system to come to life, with its readiness indicated by a small 'hand' icon in the viewfinder -- and if you take a shot before that appears, it isn't stabilized. I've found it rather difficult to get myself to remember to wait for that icon to pop up, and so with the K-7, I've accidentally taken more than a few shots without stabilization active. The Pentax K-5 makes a slight change to the IS system behavior, but it makes a big difference to the percentage of my shots that are stabilized.

With the K-7, as soon as you released the shutter button, the stabilization system went back to sleep. Let off the shutter button for a quarter of a second, then half press again, and you had to wait all over for the system to ready itself. The K-5's stabilization system, by contrast, stays active for a good few seconds after you let go of the shutter button. Since I tend to bring the camera to my eye and half-press the shutter button to get a focused view, then let go, re-frame and finally take my picture, the result is that the system is now almost always ready immediately that I'm done framing. No more waiting, and no more blurry shots because I wasn't paying attention. It's a much better behavior.

Horizon correction. Pentax has used its in-body stabilization system to offer a couple of truly unique features that debuted in the previous K-7 model, and which are carried over with some tweaks for the K-5. Perhaps the most useful of the pair is horizon correction, which applies solely to still image shooting, and relies on the SR mechanism's rotational correction capability. I've found myself simply leaving this switched on all the time with my K-7, and did the same with the K-5. When active, the camera will attempt to correct for slightly tilted horizons, and the only real downside of this is that the precise framing of the final image won't quite match what you see in the viewfinder -- but that's a small price to pay for a level horizon.

The K-5's correction feature has a very useful improvement over that of the earlier camera, but it's only available when shooting with shake reduction disabled. With SR active, the K-5 offers the same one degree of correction on either side of level that was possible with the K-7, regardless of whether shooting in portrait or landscape orientation. For the K-5, though, you can double this to a +/- two degree correction when SR is disabled, meaning an even greater ratio of perfectly level shots.

Composition Adjustment. The other completely unique feature of the Pentax K-5 and its predecessor that's enabled by the shake reduction system is composition adjustment. This is applicable to both still and movie shooting, and is useful when shooting on a tripod (and hence, with shake reduction disabled). The position and rotation of the image sensor can be tweaked within the SR system's available range, fine tuning the precise image framing in the process. I must be honest, it's not something I use very often, but when I do, it's incredibly helpful. I'm sure anybody who's ever tried to adjust their tripod positioning on a rough surface well knows how difficult it can be to make fine adjustments to a tripod's position to precisely tweak framing. Composition adjustment makes this much easier -- you only have to get the tripod close, and it's then easy to fine-tune your way to near-perfect framing. Unlike the equivalent function in the K-7, the K-5 now provides a helpful indication of how much you've adjusted the sensor position, and hence, an idea of how much more adjustment is available if needed.

Dual-axis level. Horizon correction might be a great way to help get level horizons, but it does rely on your at least being in the ballpark, and so I always try to get the camera level (unless, of course, I'm intentionally shooting at an angle for effect.) The built-in level sensor in the K-5 and K-7 -- which the horizon correction function also relies upon -- helps me do so with indications in the top and viewfinder LCDs, and optionally on the main LCD too. All of this might not be unique, but it is nonetheless a great aid in getting horizons and verticals square, regardless of whether you're shooting handheld, or on a tripod.

Where the K-7 offered only single-axis (roll) information, the K-5 now provides an indication of pitch (front to back tilt) as well, a change I'm thrilled with. I love shooting 360-degree panoramas, but doing so well generally relies on getting the camera level in both axes. There are only two slight downsides to the K-5's implementation. The first is that the pitch indication is only available on the rear-panel LCD display, where I'd have liked to have seen it added to the viewfinder display as well. Secondly, there's no way for the user to calibrate the system. That's not actually something I've needed to do myself with either my own K-7 or the review sample K-5, but I've heard from other Pentax shooters who've felt their level sensors to be slightly out of calibration, and so it'd be helpful to be able to correct this. While rare, we've seen cameras in the past which allow user calibration.

RAW / Fx button. The RAW button was something we praised in our review of the original K-7, and for those who frequently change modes, or for JPEG shooters who want to grab the occasional spontaneous raw snapshot, it makes a lot of sense. For those like myself who are nearly exclusive raw shooters, though, it's something of a waste of real estate. (On the K-7, I've set mine to be disabled in raw mode to prevent accidental changes, so its only purpose has been to return me to raw shooting after I enter the menu to grab a throwaway JPEG shot.) It's great, then, to see the Pentax K-5 give me the option to do something with that button which I've until now ignored.

With the K-5, I found myself generally leaving the button set to either exposure bracketing, or the electronic level function, in part because they were the only options that seemed to make much sense. Digital preview can already be assigned to the Power switch in place of optical preview, and frankly, it's not much more hassle to just capture a still image, then delete it after I've looked at it, if I decide not to keep it. Composition adjustment is a feature I'd only ever use when shooting a relatively static subject from a tripod, a time when saving a couple of button presses is likely not crucial -- my subject isn't going anywhere, after all.

I'd like to see the ability to assign a lot more functions to this button -- lens correction, cross processing, digital filters, HDR capture, and even multi exposure seem like they might be good candidates to add, and doubtless there are others. Likewise, it might be a good way to access program line adjustments, which currently takes at least five clicks to locate nested inside Record menu screen 3. Perhaps most appealing to me, though, would be to use this button as a dedicated, secondary shutter button. Without any change to the physical design of the camera, it could serve to allow spontaneous movie capture from within still image shooting modes, and still capture from within the movie mode, saving the valuable seconds that it takes to adjust the Mode dial when you see an unexpected shooting opportunity.

So... long story short, the Fx button is a great idea, and a worthwhile addition to what's already a fairly customizable camera, but so far the available choices which it presents seem somewhat uninspired.

User modes. Perhaps another reason that I didn't take advantage of the RAW button on the K-7 was the presence of the camera's User mode. About the only time I shoot JPEGs is for throwaway shots, and for those, I seldom wanted the full resolution of the K-7, nor the utmost image quality. Hence, I set the User mode up as my "Throwaway / Ebay picture" mode when I first got the camera, then never touched it apart from to capture those short-lived shots. It saved me accidentally leaving the camera set up to capture low-res photos when I returned to it later, as -- lockable or not -- the first thing I do when I pick the camera up is to glance at the Mode dial.

A small part of me always felt that I was somewhat wasting the User mode, though. It seemed like it could be so much more useful, but I never dared find out, because I knew eventually I'd capture a low-res throwaway shot in another mode, get sidetracked, and forget to set everything back. Hey presto, my next important shot would be lost to a tiny JPEG.

The K-5 solves that for me, with no less than five User modes, all accessed quickly and easily through the single mode dial position. Each User mode can store a raft of settings, including the exposure mode (other than Green or Movie), drive mode, program line, exposure compensation, bracketing, filters and effects, and plenty else besides. Now with a quick spin of the Mode dial I can, for example, configure the K-5 to capture raws with a reasonably high ISO sensitivity, Program exposure using the Hi-speed priority program line, Portrait custom image mode, horizon correction enabled, and shake reduction disabled to give me the maximum two-degree horizon correction. Perfect for crawling around on my hands and knees trying to get decent snapshots of my hyperactive toddler!

The icing on the cake is the ability to rename each of the five user modes, so I remember what they are. I've already chosen the names for my first two modes: "Ebay", and "Toddler". What can I say? I'm just creative like that. ;-)

Built-in time machine. I believe I've already mentioned that I'm a raw shooter; might even have done so twice. This function struck me as so cool, though, that I'm almost tempted to change my routine. For JPEG shooters, the nightmare scenario is that you capture a once-in-a-lifetime image, then excitedly jump into playback mode, only to find that you blew the highlights. Euphoria gone -- you know it's going to take you hours in Photoshop to fix, and the picture will never look quite right. Even if nobody else knows which bit isn't real, you do, after all. Will it even be worth the effort?

Pentax has come up with the answer, and we're surprised nobody thought of it sooner. They've built a time machine of sorts into the K-5, and it will let you roll back the clock to capture your image all over again in raw format.

Well, maybe not quite, but if you haven't captured, deleted, or edited any other photos since, and the camera hasn't been automatically or manually powered off, the raw data from which your irreplaceable photo was created is still sitting there in the K-5's buffer. A quick press of the AE-L button while viewing the image in playback mode will take that data, and save it as a raw file after the fact. (You'll actually end up with a Raw+JPEG, since the K-5 won't presume to delete the existing copy of the photo without your asking it to.)

Live view. The basic functionality of the Pentax K-5's live view mode is relatively similar to that of the K-7, although the dedicated Live View menu has been reordered to place frequently accessed items nearer the top of the list, and the contrast detection autofocus is significantly swifter than that of the earlier camera (even when updated to the most current firmware). There's one fairly significant change to the K-5's user interface, though, and my feelings towards it are rather ambivalent. During contrast-detection autofocus operation, the K-5's live view feed smoothly zooms in on the location of the focus point, then shortly after a lock is achieved, gradually zooms back out again. This zoom function is great for relatively static scenes, providing a useful 6x magnified view that helps you confirm whether the camera achieved a proper lock on your intended subject. The smooth manner in which the zoom is initiated, rather than just instantly switching to a magnified view, also helps reinforce in your mind exactly which part of the image you're looking at.

The problem is that the function can't be manually disabled, and it applies even when you'd expect to be framing a moving subject -- for example, if you're using continuous-servo AF, or shooting a movie. If your subject is moving, and especially if you're trying to track an erratically moving subject with the camera, this AF point zoom function can make it nearly impossible to keep them in the frame. Although I appreciated the zoom during shooting of relatively static scenes, I found it extremely frustrating the rest of the time. At the very least, I'd like to see future K-5 firmware exhibiting more intelligence in disabling the function automatically if your settings imply you're likely shooting a moving subject. Better still, though, would be to simply allow the photographer to disable the function altogether when desired.

That annoyance aside, I found the K-5's live view to be pretty useful. The increase in contrast detection focus speed obviously varies depending on the focus throw and AF drive speed of the particular lens, but it was very easily noticeable with the majority of lenses I tried, regardless of drive mechanism. (During my time with the K-5, I had a variety of review lenses plus those from my personal stock, including lenses based around screwdrive, SDM, and DC focusing.) The improvement appears to lie in two areas. If the lens is significantly out of focus to start with, the K-5 seems to require far less pauses to check focus enroute to a focus lock than is the case with the K-7. It also shows much less tendency to sail straight past the point of focus in lower ambient light or with difficult subjects, something that I noticed quite often with my K-7. I did rarely find that the K-5 indicated that it had locked focus when it was clearly some distance from doing so, but this was always obvious on the live view feed, and generally resolved with a second focusing attempt.

There's certainly still room for improvement: contrast detection autofocus isn't fast enough to deal with a moving subject, but it is now up to handling with a subject that briefly pauses in position, such as a bird coming to rest on a feeder. That's a night-and-day difference from the K-7, where I found in my real-world usage that contrast detection simply wasn't suitable for anything but static subjects.

Burst shooting. The earlier K-7 model's swift burst shooting performance was a major factor in my purchase decision, as I wanted a camera capable of keeping up with shooting motorsports. Unfortunately, I've not had the chance to get to a race since buying that camera, but with a hyperactive two year old, my K-7's burst mode has been kept busy regardless. While the Pentax K-5's burst mode doesn't quite match the company-provided specifications, it nonetheless offers a useful 1.3 frames per second gain over the K-7. Perhaps more importantly, it roughly doubles the continuous burst shooting depths, meaning more photos of my son (and better odds of one of them coming out acceptably), with less time spent waiting for the camera. With the K-5, I could capture shots continuously without the camera slowing down for as long as 4.8 seconds in JPEG mode, or 3.5 seconds in raw shooting -- a full second longer than the K-7 regardless of file type, despite the increase in frame rate and resolution.

Once the buffer was filled, though, I did find myself wishing the K-5 could take advantage of the latest-generation high-speed UHS-I flash cards. The K-5 could easily spend twice as long writing data to the flash card after a full burst than was the case in the K-7, due to all the extra data captured. It's great that support has been added for SDXC cards, but this only allows the K-5 to take advantage of the extra capacity. UHS-I cards used in the K-5 will revert to the same speeds as standard SDHC and SDXC cards.

Movie. Video is perhaps something of an Achilles heel for the Pentax K-5, although I'm still not entirely convinced that DSLR video in general is ready for prime-time yet. To be sure, there are advantages of interchangeable lenses when shooting video, and the large sensor of a DSLR compared to your typical camcorder can translate to significantly a better picture. Unfortunately the great majority of SLR lenses haven't been designed with video usage in mind, meaning that compromises abound, especially when it comes to autofocus. Although prototypes of the earlier K-7 model included in-video autofocus capabilities, Pentax has yet to offer this in shipping cameras, and this is likely due to the combination of objectionable noise induced in videos, and the fact that contrast detect AF tends to hunt somewhat around the point of focus. Still, the competition are now offering various flavors of in-video contrast detection autofocus, not only in prosumer models competing head-on with the K-5, but also in affordable, consumer-oriented cameras. I'd really like to see Pentax step into the ring as well, and let its customers decide whether the trade-offs are worthwhile.

Also an issue is the lack of manual controls. Unlike competing cameras, neither exposure nor audio levels can be controlled manually. The K-5 offers only the same Program Auto or Aperture-priority movie shooting modes as its predecessor. Nor is rolling shutter -- the jello-like effect noticeable in side-to-side motion -- as well-controlled as in Nikon's recent D7000 model, although that is mitigated to some extent by the K-5's built-in stabilization system. The addition of 1,080p capture in the K-5 is welcome, but Pentax still offers only Motion JPEG compression, meaning file sizes can be monumental -- as much as 600MB per minute. That's despite the 1,080p mode having a fixed 24 frames per second rate.

As I've mentioned previously, I think the K-5's video capture user interface could also bear some more thought. The dedicated Mode dial position robs spontaneity, making it unnecessarily awkward to switch between still and video capture. This interface was most likely retained due to the lack of a dedicated Movie shutter button, but it seems to me that the Raw / Fx button on the camera's left side is ideally situated to serve as an optional, secondary shutter button, initiating Movie capture from still modes, and vice versa. As-is, video capture is probably my least favorite feature of the K-5, and one that I feel doesn't live up to the standard of design that the rest of the camera exhibits.

High ISO. On the other end of the scale, one of my favorite features of the Pentax K-5 is its high ISO capability. While the K-7 was capable of shooting as high as ISO 6,400 equivalent, I seldom allowed myself to shoot above ISO 1,600. In a pinch, ISO 3,200 from the K-7 was usable if flash wasn't possible, but generally required that I spend a little time in the "digital darkroom", trying to minimize the effects of the noise, while retaining detail. The ISO 6,400 position in my K-7 was available only as a last resort, and one I've only taken advantage of a handful of times in the last year.

With the K-5, the game plan has been written anew. I've found myself regularly and quite happily shooting at up to ISO 6,400. Yes, there's some noise with the sensitivity raised to this level, but I've found it quick and easy to control with the standard controls in Photoshop or Lightroom, my imaging applications of choice. For shots where I'm willing to put some time and energy into post-processing, ISO 12,800 can offer reasonable results with a little work, and I'll step up to it if necessary. Beyond that, I'd only use ISO 25,600 if there was no other way to get the shot, and ISO 51,200 is simply a step too far for my own personal tastes, although both are certainly capable of small prints.

In my time with the K-5, this step forward in noise performance has had a profound effect on my shooting style. I've found myself happy to leave my AF-540FGZ flash strobe at home, and have hardly touched the internal flash strobe either. Available-light shooting has been perfectly acceptable even in dimly-lit restaurants and the like. That's not to say I wouldn't want my flash strobe as well, but the ability to stick with available light in a raft of new environments has brought an entirely different, more natural feel to my shots that I've really appreciated.

Multiple Exposure. The K-5's multiple exposure feature is held over essentially unchanged from the original K-7 design, with only a very slight tweak to one of the fonts used in its menu. It's a feature that doesn't attract a lot of attention, perhaps because the effects therein can largely be achieved in post-processing on a PC. That said, it's nonetheless an interesting tool that can provide some cool creative possibilities for photographers, and is something I've enjoyed using with my K-7.

Through the multiple exposure menu, you can opt to stack up to nine sequential frames into a single image, and surprisingly, you're not just limited to saving the result as a JPEG. You can also opt for a raw file, and even choose to save this after the fact from playback mode, just like with still-image shooting. The raw file contains the combined result of your multiple exposures in a single file that you can post-process just like any other raw image. You can mix and match exposures shot through the viewfinder and with live view, and change quite a few settings between each exposure (and while switching exposure modes between shots isn't possible, you can roll the front or rear e-dials to use the K-5's Hyper Program mode, so it's effectively possible to switch between Program and Priority modes for each individual shot). If you're using live view mode, a translucent overlay is shown over the current live view feed, letting you precisely align your next exposure to the cumulative effect of your previous shots.

The multiple exposures can either be additive (mimicking the effect achieved by winding back and re-exposing a film camera), or they can be averaged. The additive effect can be fun in some circumstances, for example allowing you to superimpose a giant moon in the dark night sky over a city shot, but it's the averaging that I've found really useful. If your subject is relatively static, by averaging multiple frames you can effectively cancel out random noise in the image, allowing remarkably clean high ISO captures. Perhaps even cooler, though, is the ability to blur motion by averaging exposures. It's not useful in every circumstance -- if your subject is strongly illuminated and moves slowly across the frame (for example, a single car's headlights or star trails), you'll get brief interruptions in their motion trail where the shutter was cycled. For subjects where there's continuous motion in the same areas, though, you can effectively achieve much the same result as if you'd shot with a neutral density filter. Flowing waterfalls and rivers, the churning sea, or crowds in a street scene can be blurred with what's effectively a multi-shot long exposure, beyond what's possible with a correct exposure at the K-5's base ISO sensitivity. Cool trick!

HDR, digital filters, cross processing. Of course, the K-5 also offers a huge selection of digital filter effects applicable either before or after exposure (or in many cases, both). In addition, there's an overhauled variant of the high dynamic range imaging function that Pentax introduced with the K-7, which has subsequently been mimicked by several competitors, as well as a variant of the unusual cross processing function that we first saw on the consumer K-x model. If you prefer to do your editing on the PC, as I do, you may seldom touch these functions, but if you like to make prints straight from the camera, they offer a very wide range of creative possibilities.

The ability to microalign images shot using the high dynamic range function is a great change, and one that makes this a genuinely useful handheld tool for photographers shooting in difficult lighting, such as when shooting home interiors, where you can't easily balance indoor and outdoor lighting levels. It's a shame that unlike the multi-exposure function, HDR imaging is available only for JPEG shooters, though. I also found the K-5's interface when applying digital filters in playback mode to be frustratingly slow. The camera prioritizes completing its preview of each effect over responding to control presses, with the result that if you want to step several items down through the available filters, you spend a fair bit of time waiting to see the effect of each filter on the way to your destination, even if you have no intention of using them.

User interface. That's a criticism I have not only in relation to digital filters, either. There are a number of areas in which relatively subtle tweaks to the K-5 could make it feel like a significantly more responsive camera. For example, if you shoot a large number of frames in burst mode, then want to enter the camera's menu system to make a quick settings change before your next burst, you have to wait for the K-5 to first finish processing its buffer, which can take a while when shooting raw files. The camera isn't completely locked up at this point -- it will still allow you to shoot further frames if buffer space remains, and to adjust exposure variables such as shutter speed, aperture, ISO sensitivity, exposure compensation, and the like. If you want to change something more obscure, though -- say, the program line, which is accessible only from the menu system -- you have to wait for buffer processing to complete, rather than being able to make the change straight away. That could result in a missed shot, or being forced to capture your next shot with settings different to those you'd have preferred. To my mind, a camera should always respond to its controls immediately, even when busy, letting the photographer decide whether clearing the buffer or making a settings change is the higher priority.

All things considered, the Pentax K-5's user interface design is fairly good, if perhaps not as pretty as those from some of the company's competitors. A lot of small tweaks have been made since the K-7 to subtleties such as the ordering of menu items, the individual fonts used, and so forth, and these changes have gone a long way towards making the K-5's interface more intuitive than that of its predecessor. Among these changes, the one most worthy of kudos in my opinion is the ability for the K-5 to remember which menu tab was last accessed, then return you immediately to this tab when you next enter the menu. This can save a huge amount of button pressing, if you're using a little trial-and-error to determine which setting yields the best result for one specific menu item.

Overall. My time spent with the Pentax K-5 has served two ends: allowing me to write this review, and also giving me the chance to see whether it was time to upgrade from my own personal Pentax K-7. Given that the K-5 follows on from -- and retains much of the core feature set of -- a camera that fits me like a glove, I am not surprised to have found myself greatly enjoying shooting with the newer camera. What floored me was the Pentax's K-5's improvement in image quality. It's incredible just how much has been possible in just a couple of years since the debut of the K-7. The Pentax K-5 is in a different ballpark in terms of both dynamic range -- at least, when shooting raw, as I do -- and also when one looks at its high ISO noise levels. The raft of other improvements in terms of shooting speed and burst depth, dual-axis leveling, extra User modes, Full HD movie capture, fine-grained JPEG noise reduction, etc. add a generous helping of icing to the cake. Pentax shooters who skipped the K-7 will find the step forwards to the K-5 to be dramatic, but even K-7 owners like myself will find a lot to recommend the company's new flagship, and the ability to keep their existing accessories will prove to be a nice bonus.

Would I consider moving to the Pentax K-5 from another system? That's a harder question to answer. There's a lot to recommend the Pentax K-5, but some of its competitors -- notably the Nikon D7000 -- come close, and manage to do so with a more affordable price tag, to boot. There are still some points on which the K-5 lags its closest competitors, especially in terms of autofocus sophistication and movie capture capabilities, but there are also a lot of areas where the K-5 surpasses its rivals: a really compact, weather-sealed body that still offers great ergonomics, a greater proportion of magnesium alloy construction, class-leading burst shooting performance, dual-axis level gauge, horizon correction, and in-body shake reduction with all available lenses. If video capture wasn't my priority, and I was still shooting another platform without a large investment in glass and accessories, I'd definitely consider making the switch. If I planned to do a lot of movie shooting, or had a larger investment in another platform, it'd be a harder move to make.

Speaking personally, I've made a decision of my own during the writing of this review. Eighteen months ago, I promised myself that the K-7 would be the last camera body I'd be buying for some time. I've now decided that's a resolution I can't keep. Even though my K-7 is still relatively new, the step forwards in dynamic range and high ISO noise performance are such that I've already gone ahead and placed an order for my very own Pentax K-5. I can't offer much higher praise than that!

Pentax K-5 Image Quality Comparison

Most digital SLRs will produce a reasonable ISO 100 shot, so I like to push them and see what they can do at ISO 1,600. Recent advances in sensor technology have made ISO 1,600 look a lot more like ISO 100, but there are still cameras whose quality starts to fall apart at this setting. It's arguable that ISO 3,200 is the new 1,600, so we've included those crops as well.

Pentax K-5 versus Pentax K-7 at ISO 1,600

Pentax K-5 versus Canon 60D at ISO 1,600

Pentax K-5 versus Nikon D7000 at ISO 1,600

Pentax K-5 versus Panasonic GH2 at ISO 1,600

Pentax K-5 versus Sony A580 at ISO 1,600

Today's ISO 3,200 is yesterday's ISO 1,600 (well, almost), so below are the same crops at ISO 3,200.

Pentax K-5 versus Pentax K-7 at ISO 3,200

Pentax K-5 versus Canon 60D at ISO 3,200

Pentax K-5 versus Nikon D7000 at ISO 3,200

Pentax K-5 versus Panasonic GH2 at ISO 3,200

Pentax K-5 versus Sony A580 at ISO 3,200

Detail: Pentax K-5 vs K-7, Canon 60D, Nikon D7000, Panasonic GH2 and Sony A580

Overall, the Pentax K-5 is a very strong contender in the 16 to 18-megapixel market. Its superb image quality matches its excellent handling and smart construction, making what was already a very good camera, the K-7, quite excellent in the K-5.

Pentax K-5 Print Quality

ISO 80/100/200 looks very crisp at 24 x 36 inches, with good color and detail.

ISO 400 images look great at 20 x 30 inches, with little loss of detail.

ISO 800 prints are quite good at 16 x 20 inches.

ISO 1,600 loses detail in our red leaf swatch, but other areas still look good at 11 x 14 inches.

ISO 3,200 looks better printed at 8 x 10 inches, with some luminance noise in the shadows, but still good. 

ISO 6,400 images are usable for less critical applications at 8 x 10 inches, but the luminance noise warrants a reduction to 5 x 7, where the whole image looks tighter and sharper. Detail in reds is quite soft now.

ISO 12,800 shots are way too noisy for 5 x 7 inch prints, but come right back to acceptable quality when printed at 4 x 6.

ISO 25,600/51,200 images are not usable and best avoided.

Overall, a good performance for the Pentax K5. It retains excellent detail for quite a run of large print sizes, which makes for easy cropping from lower ISO settings and the ability to squeeze a 4 x 6 out of ISO 12,800, great for indoor low-light snapshots.

See below for our conclusion; be sure to check the other tabs for detailed test results.

In the Box

The retail package contains the following items:

• Pentax K-5 SLR digital camera
• smc PENTAX DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR lens (for 18-55mm kit version only)
• Lens cap (for 18-55mm kit version only)
• Rear lens cap (for 18-55mm kit version only)
• Shoulder strap (O-ST53)
• Rechargeable 7.2V, 1,860mAh, 14Wh lithium-ion battery (D-LI90)
• Battery charger (K-BC90)
• AC cord
• USB cable (I-USB7)
• Standard definition, composite A/V cable (I-AVC7)
• Body cap
• Sync socket 2P cap
• AF Frame Matte focusing screen (MF-60, installed)
• Eyecup FR
• Eyepiece cap
• Hotshoe cover FK
• Software CD-ROM (S-SW110, includes Pentax Digital Camera Utility 4)
• Operating manual (~375 pages)
• Serial number card(s)
• Worldwide service network leaflet

Recommended Accessories

• Extra D-LI90 battery pack for extended outings
• Large capacity, class 6 SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card. These days, 8GB Class 4 is a good tradeoff between cost and capacity, but if you plan to capture many high definition movie clips, shoot in Raw format, or take advantage of the K-5's burst shooting capabilities, look for larger cards with Class 6 or faster ratings. (Note that you'll need to update the body's firmware for SDXC compatibility, and the K-5 doesn't derive any speed benefit from UHS-type cards.)
• Camera case
• Portrait / battery grip (D-BG4, especially if you have large hands, shoot a lot of portrait-orientation photos, or want AA battery compatibility)
• Infra-red Remote Control F (if you favor small size) or Remote Control WP (if you prefer waterproofing and the ability to remotely trigger autofocus without immediately capturing an image)
• Cable switch CS-205 (if you prefer a physical remote release, rather than infra-red)
• Diopter correction lens adapter M (if you have a strong eyeglass prescription, beyond the camera's built-in -2.5 to +1.5 diopter correction)
• AF Divided Matte (ML-60), AF Scale Matte (MI-60), or Plain Matte (ME-60) interchangeable focusing screens, if you favor them to the standard AF Frame Matte (MF-60) that ships with the camera

Pentax K-5 Conclusion

With the launch of the K-7 two years ago, Pentax played to its strengths by creating a digital SLR that was not only feature-rich, but also surprisingly compact for a weather-sealed, magnesium alloy-bodied camera. The K-7 was an important product for the company, providing some truly unique features, and its rugged, coldproof body reinforced Pentax's reputation for catering to the needs of sporty, outdoors types. As the followup to that camera, the Pentax K-5 has some very big shoes to fill.

The K-5 retains much of what made its predecessor great, with a nearly identical body that's solid and comfortable in the hand, despite being absolutely packed with external controls. Like the earlier camera, the Pentax K-5 is designed to cope with the elements, with full weather and cold proofing throughout its design. Key among its new features is an upgraded image sensor, and there's also a healthy increase in burst shooting speed and depth, an uprated autofocus module, dual-axis level gauge, and Full HD movie capture capability, plus a variety of other minor improvements throughout.

The new image sensor is the really big news, though. While it only boosts resolution ever so slightly, it provides dramatic improvements in both sensitivity / noise performance, and in dynamic range over that used in the K-7. The result is a camera that's very well suited to shooting in difficult ambient lighting situations, without the need to resort to flash photography. Raw shooters also gain a degree of post-exposure correction that's unprecedented, but JPEG shooters will find that the default settings don't yield a similar improvement.

Pentax has also put some work into improving the K-5's autofocus performance, although the 11-point AF sensor design is starting to show its age, with rivals offering more sophisticated chips that have much greater focus point density. The improvements in phase detection autofocus are subtle but noticeable, although we found that the K-5 still has some difficulty in low ambient light. A much bigger step forwards has been made in live view mode, where contrast detection autofocus is now much faster than in the K-7, and rivals that found on other recent DSLRs. While still not fast enough to handle focusing on a moving subject, the K-5's contrast detection autofocus is no longer limited to still life use.

Although it's a commonplace feature these days, we still have mixed feeling about the utility of DSLR movie capture, so it's not yet area where we're inclined to judge a camera harshly. If you're an enthusiastic videographer, though, you may find the K-5's movie recording functionality a little more limiting than that of competing SLRs. Pentax has yet to offer full manual exposure or audio levels control, and nor does it provide for autofocus during movie capture. With that said, there's still a useful improvement over the previous K-7 model. The Pentax K-5 does away with the non-standard recording resolutions used by its predecessor and now outputs video at a variety of common standards, with a choice of frame rates at all but the highest resolution Full HD (1,080p) mode. It also now allows use of a variety of effects functions during movie capture.

Compared to its predecessor, one change for the Pentax K-5 has provoked some debate amongst IR staffers since it was first announced. With a price tag of US$1,600 body-only, the K-5 is significantly more expensive than its predecessor, the K-7 (US$1,300 at launch). Thankfully street pricing is a little lower, with some retailers just breaking below the $1,500 point, bringing the K-5 closer to important rivals such as Nikon's D7000 ($1,200 street). For videographers, the Nikon is likely the better choice, but for still imaging the Pentax K-5 likely offers enough of an advantage to justify the remaining difference in the minds of photographers. For example, despite a slightly higher burst speed, the K-5 offers more than double the burst shooting depth of Nikon's rival. It also offers a much greater proportion of magnesium alloy body panels in its construction. Had Pentax been able to retain pricing closer to that of the K-7 though, it would have been even easier to recommend the K-5 over its rivals.

Overall, the Pentax K-5 is an extremely capable digital SLR, matching or besting its peers in many key areas, including image quality, performance, and handling. It's all the more impressive that it manages to do all this in a body that's significantly more compact than those of its main rivals. The in-depth weather sealing and cold proofing positively inspires confidence, and while the initial learning curve might be a little steep, the K-5's body fits like a glove once you've taken the time to familiarize yourself with its many controls. Although we still have some slight reservations over its pricing, we think that just like the camera it follows, the Pentax K-5 is more than worthy of a Dave's Pick.

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