Collectors, start queuing: Pentax K-5 Silver Special Edition announced

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posted Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 5:00 PM EST

Pentax's K-5 Silver Special Edition camera. Photo provided by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. Click for our Pentax K-5 review!Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. has today announced its latest limited-edition digital SLR, the Pentax K-5 Silver Special Edition.

Available in just 1,500 sets worldwide, this new model takes the standard Pentax K-5 body, but changes the color scheme to predominantly silver with black trim, much like the Pentax K-5 Limited Silver that was announced last year. However, it doesn't include the tweaked handgrip of that model, and likewise appears not to feature the reinforced LCD cover glass of the earlier version.

It does come already-updated to the just-released version 1.13 firmware, however. It also comes bundled with a silver variant of the smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS lens that was recently announced alongside the Pentax K-01 compact system camera, itself a variation of the existing smc PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited lens.

Pricing for the Pentax K-5 Silver Special Edition is set at US$1,600 or thereabouts, and it will only be available from two venues in the US market: Pentax's own web store, and Ace Photo. It will be available in April 2012, and if sales of the company's past limited-edition models are anything to go by, we'd expect you'll have to move quickly if you want one...

For more details, read our Pentax K-5 review!

Pentax K-5 Silver Special Edition
Pentax's K-5 Silver Special Edition camera. Photo provided by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera Type Pro SLR
Manufacturer Pentax
Model Number North America: K-5
Dimensions 5.2 x 3.8 x 2.9 in.
(131 x 97 x 73 mm)
Weight 26.4 oz (748 g)
Planned Price $1,600 (limited edition of 1,500 units)
Planned Availability April 2012
Image Capture
Sensor Type Sony CMOS
APS-C (approx. 1.12 in. diagonal)
16.93 megapixels (total)
16.30 megapixels (effective)
Filter Type RGBG
Focal Length Multiplier 1.50
Aspect Ratio 3:2
Image Dimensions 4928 x 3264 (16.1 megapixels)
3936 x 2624 (10.3 megapixels)
3072 x 2048 (6.3 megapixels)
1728 x 1152 (2.0 megapixels)
Capture Speed Standard: 3.7 frames per second for 9999 frames
Continuous: 6.5 frames per second for 31 frames
Image Quality 4 levels
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder Yes, SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.92x mag., 21.7mm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.5 diopter
99% field of view
LCD 3.0 in. diagonal921,000 dots
99% field of view
Playback Zoom 32.0x max
Lens
Lens Type Interchangeable Lens
3x optical zoom
52mm lens thread
Lens Mount PENTAX KAF2 (KAF2, KAF, KA)
Image Stabilization Yes
Focal Length 18.0 - 55.0mm (actual)
27 - 83mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/38 (tele)
Focusing System SAFOX IX+, 11 point (9 cross type focus point in the center), with light wavelength sensor
Has AF assist lamp
Manual focus possible
Focusing Range Normal: 10" - 4,081" (25 cm - 9,999 cm)
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity Auto, 100-12800, expandable 80 to 51200
Shutter Speed 30 - 1/8000 second
Exposure Modes Aperture, Shutter, Manual
Metering Modes TTL open-aperture: 77-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Exposure Compensation +/- 5.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance Image Sensor - Auto, daylight, shade, cloudy, fluorescent (D, N, W, L), tungsten, flash, CTE, manual (up to 3 settings), Kelvin temperature (up to 3 settings)
Internal Flash Guide Number: 13
Modes: P-TTL, Red-eye reduction, Slow-speed sync, Rear Curtain Sync. High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync also available with PENTAX dedicated external flash.
Range: Depends on lens
Flash Exposure Compensation -2 to +1 EV in 1/2EV increments
Creative
Scene Modes Sensitivity Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority
Self Timer Yes, 2 or 12 seconds
Movie Format AVI (Motion JPEG) with audio
Storage
Recording Medium SD/MMC including SDHC, SDXC
File System FAT16, FAT32, complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File Format 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), JPEG (EXIF 2.21)
Connectivity
Video High definition: Yes (HDMI)
Standard definition: Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable
Computer USB 2.0 High Speed
Other Mini HMDI, DC input, wired remote, 3.5mm external stereo mic jack
Power
Battery Type Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Form Factor Proprietary D-LI90; optional D-BG4 Battery Grip
Product Bundle
Software Software (CD-ROM) S-SW110
Battery / Charger 1 x Proprietary D-LI90 Lithium-ion rechargeable battery and charger
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliant Yes
PictBridge Compliant No
Internal Microphone Yes
Internal Speaker Yes
Tripod Mount Yes
Remote Control Yes, Optional Wired or IR
Notes New 16.3MP CMOS APS-C sensor with ISOs up to 51200, sensor-shift shake reduction, 1080p HD video at 25fps, 11-point SAFOX IX+ AF system, 100%, 0.92x viewfinder, electronic level with tilt scale, improved in-camera HDR, SDXC compatible with firmware update, weather sealed magnesium allow body on stainless steel chassis.
More Photos
Pentax's K-5 Silver Special Edition camera. Photo provided by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. Click for a bigger picture!
Pentax's K-5 Silver Special Edition camera. Photo provided by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. Click for a bigger picture!
Pentax's K-5 Silver Special Edition camera. Photo provided by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. Click for a bigger picture!
Pentax's K-5 Silver Special Edition camera. Photo provided by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. Click for a bigger picture!
Pentax's K-5 Silver Special Edition camera. Photo provided by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. Click for a bigger picture!
 

 

Press Release

Pentax K-5 Silver Special Edition

An Exclusive Limited-Edition Camera Package Featuring A Marc Newson-Designed Ultra-Thin Lens

DENVER, CO March 1, 2012… PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX K-5 Silver Special Edition. Available only as a limited edition of 1,500 sets worldwide, the package consists of the PENTAX K-5 digital SLR camera body matched with the new, ultra thin smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS lens.

The exclusive package combines the PENTAX K-5 — the flagship model of the PENTAX K series of digital SLR cameras — with the smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS lens — the world’s thinnest unifocal lens*. Marc Newson, one of the world’s most renowned industrial designers, masterly designed this lens. Both the camera body and the lens barrel feature the same elegant silver finish, assuring that this package is a high-performance imaging tool that also boasts maximum visual harmony. Meticulous attention has been paid to every detail of the package, including a specially designed package, while the camera’s firmware has been updated to the latest version (Ver.1.13).
* The world’s thinnest interchangeable lens for lens-interchangeable digital SLR cameras, as of February 25, 2012 (based on PENTAX’s research).

Note: The specifications of the camera body (except for the firmware) and the lens are same as those for the standard K-5 model.

The K-5 Silver Special Edition package will be available in April 2012 for $1599.95 USD and will be available exclusively through the PENTAX Web Store and Ace Photo.

More information is available at the following link: www.pentaximaging.com/news and product images are available at: www.pentaximaging.com/press/pressfiles.html

PENTAX is a leader in the production of a variety of adventure ready digital cameras including weather-resistant digital SLRs and stylish, compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. For more than 90 years, PENTAX has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of adventurous consumers and businesses. With new headquarters in Denver, Colorado, PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION is a subsidiary of PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. effective October 1, 2011. Additional details may be found here: www.pentaximaging.com/news

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