Pentax K-5

alaTest has collected and analyzed 658 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviews about the build quality and portability are generally positive. The usability and performance are also mentioned favorably, but some have doubts about the exposure and lens. Views about the size and video are different.

image quality, performance, usability, portability, build quality

value for money, lens, exposure

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital SLR Cameras the Pentax K-5 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 97/100 = Excellent quality.

See all Pentax Digital SLR Cameras

Review analysis

(Based on 660 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (75% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (18% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (4% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (1% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (3% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

Image quality
  Show positive (66%)Show negative (1%)(Show all)
Performance
  Show positive (93%)Show negative (7%)(Show all)
Usability
  Show positive (62%)Show negative (6%)(Show all)
Portability
  Show positive (43%)Show negative (15%)(Show all)
Stabilizer
  Show positive (93%)None yet(Show all)
Build quality
  Show positive (75%)Show negative (2%)(Show all)
Design
  Show positive (48%)Show negative (5%)(Show all)
Color
  Show positive (38%)Show negative (10%)(Show all)
Sensor
  Show positive (28%)Show negative (2%)(Show all)
Focus
  Show positive (23%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
More features

Showing 222 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 222 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (456)

Expert review by:

Pentax K-5 IIs

 

The Pentax K-5 IIs ($1,299.95 direct, body only) sets itself apart from the nearly identical K-5 II by something it lacks: a low-pass filter. Elminating this filter allows the camera to capture sharper detail, although it comes at the risk of picking...

No low-pass filter. Excellent viewfinder. Fast 6.2fps shooting. Good high ISO performance. Weather-sealed design. In-body shake reduction. Compact for its class. Excellent control layout

Disappointing video experience

The Pentax K-5 IIs omits a low-pass filter in order to capture extremely fine image detail, but its video capture capabilities are behind the times.

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Expert review by:

Pentax K-5

 

The weather-sealed Pentax K-5 is a fast-shooting digital SLR with in-body stabilization and fast burst shooting, but it's hampered by an underperforming kit lens, poor high ISO performance, and some other issues.

Weather sealed. Fast continuous shooting. In-body stabilization. Pentaprism viewfinder. Quiet

Pricey. So-so kit lens. No autofocus during video recording. Subpar high ISO performance

The K-5 ($1,249.95 direct with DA 18-55mm WR lens) is Pentax's top-end D-SLR, and offers the added benefit of weather sealing. Unfortunately, its weather-sealed kit lens can't keep up with the camera's 16-megapixel sensor and the K-5 lags behind the...

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Expert review by:

Pentax K-5 Digital Camera Review

 

Pentax's K-5 features a number of improvements over the K-7, not the least of which is a new 16.2 megapixel sensor that boasts strong color representation and, when paired with the excellent weather resistant kit lens, a sharpness rating that exceeds...

Much of the K-5's pre-release hype focused on the brand new 16.2 effective megapixel sensor. In our tests, we found the excitement to be justified. This Pentax matches or exceeds comparable models from Nikon and Canon, especially in the areas of...

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Expert review by:

Pentax K-5 Review

 
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Expert review by:

Pentax K-5 II

 

As a first impression, this tough, compact (5.2×3.8×2.9″) DSLR is rock-solid, with a rugged, stainless-steel chassis covered by a magnesium alloy. It also has a weather-sealed, coldproof design that makes it resistant to moisture, dust, and more.

Autofocus under extreme conditions; continuous shooting; video

LCD clarity

Overall, this update to the Pentax K-5 family is a long-awaited one. It addresses many of the necessary changes that make this K-5 II generation a serious contender in the DSLR arena.

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Expert review by:

Pentax K-5II Review: A Praiseworthy Challenger

 

The Pentax K-5II is the current flagship of the Pentax DSLR lineup, superseding the K-5 which remains on Pentax's website as of this writing (late February). But unlike the K-5, the K-5II is also available as a K-5IIs variant which dispenses with the...

Very good image quality ; Weather resistant ; Flagship" featured camera at a prosumer camera cost ; In body stabilization compatible with any Pentax lens ; Relatively small and light given overall feature set

No continuous autofocus in video mode ; Live view/video a bit slow to initiate following selection of video mode ; Video clip length in full HD video less than six minutes ; Shooting mode dial lock button/turning a bit awkward ; Might be too small for...

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Expert review by:

Pentax K-5 II review

 

In our Pentax K-5 II review video we test whether this new Pentax DSLR offers a true upgrade over the Pentax K-5.

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Expert review by:

Pentax K-5

 

The finest Pentax DSLR we've yet tested is a pleasure to shoot with

Good resolution scores with the kit lens; Handles noise well

Mediocre long-exposure; So-so white balance

Much of the K-5’s pre-release hype focused on the brand new 16.2 effective megapixel sensor. In our tests, we found the excitement to be justified. This Pentax matches or exceeds comparable models from Nikon and Canon, especially in the areas of...

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Expert review by:

Pentax K-5Digital Camera Review

 

What follows is a quick overview of the video capabilities of the Pentax K-5. Read our comprehensive analysis and testing results in greater detail at DigitalCameraInfo.com.

Though the K-5 posts solid scores, what we don’t see in these results are factors like control and usability. It is there that the K-5's video capabilities dip into the realm of “unusable.”

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Expert review by:

Pentax K-5

 

The biggest news with the Pentax K-5 is its 16.3-megapixel image sensor. Testers at DxOMark.com call it "simply the best APS-C we have tested so far." (APS-C is the type of sensor often found on under-$2,000 DSLRs.) Experts say the K-5 is also...

Improved image quality and low-light performance, 1080p high-definition video at 25 fps, includes mic jack and HDMI port, customizable settings

Not as good in dim light as full-frame cameras, no autofocus while shooting video, no one-touch video button, expensive

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Product Specifications

Configuration

Autofocus: Yes
Built-in Flash: Yes
Changeable Lens: Yes
Image Stabiliser:Optical Image Stabiliser
Integrated GPS Module:No / Yes
Touchscreen: No
View Finder Type:Optical / Electronic Viewfinder / Optical / Electronic Viewfinder + LCD

Connectivity

Bluetooth: No
HDMI:No / Yes
HDMI Interface: Yes
PictBridge: No
WiFi Connectivity:No / WiFi Ready

General Features

3D: No
Bridge Camera: No
Chip Type:CMOS
Product Type:DSLR Camera
Sensor Size:23.5 x 15.7 mm / 23.7 x 15.7 mm
SLR / Compact:SLR Camera

Lens

Longest Shutter Speed in s:30
Shortest Shutter Speed in s:1/8000

Memory

Compact Flash Card: No
Memory Stick / Memory Stick Pro: No
Memory Stick Duo / Duo Pro: No
Memory Type:External
Micro Drive: No
Multimedia Card: No
SDXC Card:No / Yes
Secure Digital Card: Yes
Secure Digital High Capacity Card: Yes
XD Card: No

Power Supply

Battery Model:Pentax D-LI90
Battery Type:Pentax D-LI90

Recording

Aperture Priority: Yes
Face Detection Mode:Face Detection
Movie / Voice Recording:Movie + Voice
RAW Format: Yes
Serial Shot Mode: Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes
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