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Pentax K-5

PRO rating
How it works?
How it works?
  1. User ratingsUser ratingsratings of product added by Productz users
  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
Legend
  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Poor
  4. Average
4.2
based on all reviews
User ratings:
44
4.0 out of 5
44 user ratings
5 stars
36 %
4 stars
34 %
3 stars
27 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %
Consumer ratings:
4.4 / 5
Editorial reviews:
16
  1. See more
4.1 out of 5
9 user ratings
5 stars
44 %
4 stars
44 %
3 stars
11 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • The main menus are uncomplicated and well laid out
  • more resolution and faster bursts
  • Color accuracy also got an Excellent rating

Cons

  • Pentax equivalents tend to cost quite a bit less
  • only mono sound recording
  • underpowered pop-up flash

Key specs

  • CMOS
  • APS-C
  • 23.4x15.6 mm
  • 16 Mpx
  • 4928, 3264 px
  • Pentax KA, Pentax KAF, Pentax KAF2
  • 3.5
  • Continuous Auto Focus, Single Auto Focus
  • 3.0 in
  • no

Compare technical data of the product to its category

Pentax

Pentax K-5 - Pros & Cons

Pentax K-5

Pros

  • The main menus are uncomplicated and well laid out
  • more resolution and faster bursts
  • Color accuracy also got an Excellent rating
  • superbly detailed and clear 3-inch colour screen
  • Metering performance is good
  • it feels nicely weighted and very strong
  • Manual focusing is precise and the view through the viewfinder is a pleasure
  • neutral-warm images and AWB produces a good
  • Backwards compatibility with thousands of lenses is already well assured
  • The lens performs extremely well and far better than many other kit lenses
  • Tones are well recorded over a very wide dynamic range

Cons

  • Pentax equivalents tend to cost quite a bit less
  • only mono sound recording
  • underpowered pop-up flash
  • equally weather protected cable release port
  • photography flare is not a problem
  • Auto white-balance in fluorescent lighting
  • the built in anti-shake that applies to all lens
  • Nikon gear
  • Auto white-balance in incandescent lighting
  • raw burst depth was limited to a disappointing
  • Audio recording is limited to mono via the on-board microphone

Pentax K-5 - Technical Overview

PoorAverageGoodExcellent
IconScreen size
3 in
Best:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710
Screen size: 6.7 in
IconISO maximum
51200
Best:
Pentax KP
ISO maximum: 819200
IconEffective pixels
16 Mpx
Best:
Hasselblad H6D-100c
Effective pixels: 100 Mpx
IconMax resolution
4928 x 3264 px
Best:
Leica M11
Max resolution: 9528 x 6328 px

Pentax - Video Reviews (4)

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Pentax K-5 - Full Specifications

Icon
Sensor
Sensor typeCMOS
Image sensor formatAPS-C
Sensor size0.92 in
Sensor photo detectors17.0 Mpx
Effective pixels16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:2
Max resolution4928 x 3264 px
Other resolutions
  • 3936x2624
  • 3072x2048
  • 1728x1152
ProcessorPRIME II
Icon
Optics and focus
Lens mount
  • Pentax KA
  • Pentax KAF
  • Pentax KAF2
Optical zoom3.0 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x
Maximum aperture3.5
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)Lamp
Focus adjustmentAuto
Contrast autofocusyes
Contrast adjustmentyes
Saturation adjustmentyes
Brightness adjustmentyes
Focal length multiplier1.5x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyes
Manual focusyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyes
Number of focus points11
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)11
Image stabiliserBuilt-in
Filter diameter2.05 in
Phase detection autofocusyes
Icon
Photography features
Shooting modes
  • Aperture priority
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Program
  • Shutter priority
Camera shutter typeElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s
Shutter priorityyes
Aperture priorityyes
Manual exposure modeyes
Number of exposures3
Exposure compensation plus5
Exposure compensation minus-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Continuous shootingyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 12
Histogramyes
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
WB BracketingNo
Subject / scene modesno
Flash sync speed1/180s
Built-in flashyes
Flash range13
Flash modes
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoe
Flash metering systemP-TTL
External flashyes
Continuous drive7.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Backlight
  • Portrait
  • Landscape
Self-timeryes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 12
Speed (JPEG)7.0 fps
Speed (RAW)7.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 2.0±EV
Icon
Audio features
Built-in microphoneyes
Microphone typeStereo
Voice recordingyes
Noise reductionyes
Icon
Dimensions
Weight23.3 oz
Width5.2 in
Height3.8 in
Depth2.9 in
Icon
Power
Power source typeBattery
Battery life (CIPA)980
Battery life (max)7.0 h
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported1
AC adapter includedyes
On/off switchyes
Icon
Other features
Timelapse recordingyes
Orientation sensoryes
Calendaryes
Date imprintingyes
Album organizationyes
Energy Star certifiedno
Frameyes
Languages support
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
Tripod mounting supportedyes
On Screen Display (OSD) languages
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
Image editing modes
  • Crop
  • Resizing
  • Rotating
Icon
Image
ISO
  • 100
  • 1600
  • Auto
ISO Autoyes
ISO minimum80
ISO maximum51200
Boosted ISO minimum80
Boosted ISO maximum51200
Maximum image resolution4928 x 3264 px
White balance presets9
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Daylight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Tungsten
Custom white balanceyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Muted
  • Pastel
  • Sepia
Image stabilizerno
Image stabilization typeSensor-shift
Supported aspect ratios16:9
Uncompressed formatRAW
HDRyes
AEB/HDR supportyes
Icon
Screen and viewfinder
Screen size3.0 in
Articulated LCDno
Screen technologyLCD
Screen dots921000
Touch screenno
Field of view170.0 %
Live viewyes
ViewfinderOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification32.0 x
Separate info displayyes
Icon
Videography features
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
HD typeFull HD
Supported video file formatsAVI
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Camera playback
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1280 x 720
Max frame rate (highest resolution)25.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)30.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate25.0 fps
Icon
Design
Body typeCompact
Body material
  • Magnesium
  • Stainless steel
Colour of productBlack
Anti-dust systemyes
Freezeproof up to14.0 °F
Environmentally sealedyes
Icon
Storage
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
Dual memory card slotsyes
Memory slots1
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.21
  • RAW
Icon
Connectivity
HDMIyes
HDMI ports quantity1
HDMI connector typeMini
USB connector typeMini-USB B
USB version2.0
Microphone portyes
DC-in jackyes
Remote controlyes
PictBridgeno
NFCno
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)no
Firewireno

Pentax K-5 - Q&A

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Pentax K-5 Pentax - Editorial Reviews (16)

4.1
Based on 16 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Pentax K-5 The Pentax K-5: It’s A Matter Of Tradition
Shutterbug logo
Shutterbug
Published: 11.11.2011
The Pentax K-5: It’s A Matter Of Tradition

Pentax has a long history of innovation as well as a rabid fan base that loves the company’s tradition of optical excellence and originality. In fact, this fan base is the reason I’m writing this review. If you’re not already a Pentaxian you probably didn’t know that Pentax (derived from PENTAprism refleX) built the first camera to incorporate a penta-prism viewfinder and reflex mirror system in 1957 and went on to introduce the first TTL metering system in 1964.

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Pocket-lint logo
Pocket-lint
Published: 06.12.2010
Pentax K-5
4.5

The Pentax K-5 is a comprehensively specified professional or semi-professional DSLR that is capable of superb results, it is also one of the best

Pentax K-5 Review: Pentax K-5 DSLR
Brisbane Times logo
Brisbane Times
Published: 26.04.2011
Review: Pentax K-5 DSLR

This is an outstanding camera and anyone with a bag full of Pentax lenses should put it high on the shopping list.

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5 Review
Imaging Resource logo
Imaging Resource
Published: 11.04.2011
Pentax K-5 Review
4.5

Pentax K-5 review, find out how the K-5 stacks up against the competition in our real-world review with in-depth image quality comparisons.

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Photo Review logo
Photo Review
Published: 17.02.2012
Pentax K-5
4.5

A sophisticated and keenly-priced DSLR camera with controls and functions for knowledgeable and creative photo enthusiasts.The K-5 replaces the K-7 (from which it has evolved) at the top of Pentax's DLSR range. Little has changed as far as the camera's body is concerned but beneath the surface lie some significant improvements. The most notable being a new 16.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, which supports a top burst speed of seven frames/second and the widest sensitivity range among current DSLRs.

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5 review
TechRadar logo
TechRadar
Published: 01.08.2012
Pentax K-5 review
4.0

Is the Pentax K5 simply a modest upgrade to an already existing camera, or one that deserves recognition in its own right?

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5 Camera Review | Neocamera
Neocamera.com logo
Neocamera.com
Pentax K-5 Camera Review | Neocamera

Pentax K-5 Review: Features, Suitability and Capability

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5 In-depth Review
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 18.12.2010
Pentax K-5 In-depth Review
4.1

When the K10D was launched in September 2006 it was Pentax's first foray into the 'enthusiast' DSLR market, competing at the time with rivals such as the Canon EOS 30D and the Nikon D200. Four years later in 2010 the enthusiast sector of the market is as competitive as ever and the K-5, Pentax' latest offering to the 'serious amateur photographer', will have to fight for consumers' attention with the likes of the Canon 7D, Nikon D7000 and D300S, and the Olympus E-5. At a launch RRP of $1600 (body only) the K-5 is currently at a similar price point as its main competitors but we would expect the street price to go down sooner rather than later.

Pentax K-5 New Gear: Pentax K-5 DSLR
Popular Photography logo
Popular Photography
Published: 17.01.2019
New Gear: Pentax K-5 DSLR

PHOTOKINA: A welcomed upgrade to the K-7 and a worthy competitor to Nikon's D300s and Canon's 7D.

Pentax K-5 Lab Test: Pentax K-5
Popular Photography logo
Popular Photography
Published: 17.01.2019
Lab Test: Pentax K-5

This rugged new DSLR is tough—and tough to beat

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5 Review | Photography Blog
photographyblog.com logo
photographyblog.com
Published: 22.11.2010
Pentax K-5 Review | Photography Blog
4.5

The K-5 is the second DSLR camera from Pentax for 2010, inheriting the existing K-7's proven control layout and incorporating a new 16.3 megapixel APS-C sensor. The Pentax K-5 offers an incredible ISO range of 80-51200 plus Full 1080p HD movies, 7fps burst shooting and a large high-resolution LCD screen. Read our Pentax K-5 review to discover if this mid-range DSLR can compete with the competition from Nikon and Canon.

Pentax K-5 Pentax K5 DSLR Review
photographic-central.blogspot.com logo
photographic-central.blogspot.com
Published: 18.04.2024
Pentax K5 DSLR Review

Camera reviews, photography, and photographic experiences.

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5 Review | Camera Decision
Camera Decision logo
Camera Decision
Published: 18.12.2010
Pentax K-5 Review | Camera Decision
3.6

Pentax K-5 is a 16.0MP Advanced DSLR camera with a APS-C sized CMOS sensor and Pentax KAF2 mount. Read our K-5 review to find its pros and cons.

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
CNET logo
CNET
Published: 01.02.2011
Pentax K-5

The Pentax K-5 may be an expensive digital SLR, but it certainly packs in plenty of features for the price, and its performance is worth coughing up for.

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5 In-depth Review
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 18.12.2010
Pentax K-5 In-depth Review
4.1

When the K10D was launched in September 2006 it was Pentax's first foray into the 'enthusiast' DSLR market, competing at the time with rivals such as the Canon EOS 30D and the Nikon D200. Four years later in 2010 the enthusiast sector of the market is as competitive as ever and the K-5, Pentax' latest offering to the 'serious amateur photographer', will have to fight for consumers' attention with the likes of the Canon 7D, Nikon D7000 and D300S, and the Olympus E-5. At a launch RRP of $1600 (body only) the K-5 is currently at a similar price point as its main competitors but we would expect the street price to go down sooner rather than later.

Often compared with Pentax K-5