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Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5Pentax K-5Pentax K-5Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
alaScore 91

959 reviews

Dec, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 959 reviews of Pentax K-5. The average rating for this product is 4.6/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. Comments about the durability and portability are overall positive. The image quality and usability are also appreciated, whereas the storage and exposure get less positive reviews.

performance, usability, image quality, portability, durability

exposure, storage

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Pentax K-5 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 91/100 = Excellent quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 959 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (74% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (18% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (3% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (2% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (3% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

performance
  Show positive (93%)Show negative (7%)(Show all)
usability
  Show positive (84%)Show negative (16%)(Show all)
image quality
  Show positive (93%)Show negative (7%)(Show all)
portability
  Show positive (72%)Show negative (28%)(Show all)
durability
  Show positive (88%)Show negative (12%)(Show all)
price
  Show positive (73%)Show negative (27%)(Show all)
screen
  Show positive (87%)Show negative (13%)(Show all)
lens
  Show positive (73%)Show negative (27%)(Show all)
design
  Show positive (94%)Show negative (6%)(Show all)
size
  Show positive (80%)Show negative (20%)(Show all)
focus
  Show positive (91%)Show negative (9%)(Show all)
reliability
  Show positive (81%)Show negative (19%)(Show all)
color
  Show positive (89%)Show negative (11%)(Show all)
low-light
  Show positive (80%)Show negative (20%)(Show all)
stabilizer
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
sensor
  Show positive (89%)Show negative (11%)(Show all)
flash
  Show positive (71%)Show negative (29%)(Show all)
video
  Show positive (69%)Show negative (31%)(Show all)
battery
  Show positive (96%)Show negative (4%)(Show all)
exposure
  Show positive (37%)Show negative (63%)(Show all)
viewfinder
  Show positive (83%)Show negative (17%)(Show all)
glare
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
shutter
  Show positive (90%)Show negative (10%)(Show all)
software
  Show positive (89%)Show negative (11%)(Show all)
zoom
  Show positive (83%)Show negative (17%)(Show all)
storage
  None yetShow negative (100%)(Show all)
contrast
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
energy
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
finish
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
memory
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
More features

Showing 408 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

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Showing 1 - 223 of 408 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (548)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Pentax K-5

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 108 user reviews of Pentax K-5 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.8/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. Opinions about the image quality and price are generally positive. The portability and usability are also mentioned favorably. Some have doubts about the storage.

performance, usability, portability, price, image quality

storage

99% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Pentax K-5

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 98 user reviews of Pentax K-5 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.6/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com. Reviewers really like the price and image quality. The portability and usability are also mentioned favorably, whereas there are mixed opinions on the shutter and software.

performance, usability, portability, image quality, price

94% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.ca)

Amazon.ca review summary for Pentax K-5

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 7 user reviews of Pentax K-5 from Amazon.ca. The average user rating for this product is 4.7/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.ca. People really like the color and performance. The sensor and image quality are also mentioned favorably.

usability, image quality, sensor, performance, color

100% of the reviews on Amazon.ca give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Expert review by : Richard Butler (dpreview.com)

Pentax K-5 II and K-5 II S

 

Last September Pentax replaced the K-5 with not just one but two new digital SLRs, one without an optical low pass filter (OLPF). Looking little changed from the Pentax K-5 and K-7 before that, the Pentax K-5 II retains a very photographer-friendly...

Jun, 2013
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Expert review by : Jim Fisher (pcmag.com)

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 user interface is pretty straightforward. The eye-level viewfinder displays the current shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and other crucial shooting information so you can change settings without dropping the camera from your eye. You can also view...

Apr, 2012
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Expert review by : Barney Britton , Lars Rehm (dpreview.com)

Pentax K-5 In-depth Review

 

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...

Good detail and dynamic range (even better in RAW) Exceptionally low shadow noise in RAW files at low ISOs One of the best APS-C DSLRs in terms of high ISO image quality Very good build quality and handling Maximum ISO of 51,200 at full resolution...

AF system not as versatile as Nikon D7000 (which is a cheaper camera) Lockable exposure mode dial can be annoying No dedicated movie shooting button No AF during movie shooting Poorly implemented live histogram in live view/manual exposure mode...

We liked the older Pentax K-7 a lot, and our only significant criticism was its relatively poor high ISO performance. The new K-5 brings all the things that we liked about the K-7 - the compact, solid body, and generally well thought-out ergonomics,...

Dec, 2010
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Expert review by : Christopher Snow (camcorderinfo.com)

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.”

Jun, 2011
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Expert review by : Mark Goldstein (photographyblog.com)

Pentax K-5 Review

 

The Pentax K-5 is a new semi-professional DSLR camera, based around the same body design as the older K-7 and the same 16.3 megapixel image sensor as found in the Nikon D7000 and Sony A55 cameras. Key new features include a greatly expanded ISO range...

The Pentax K-5 combines the proven design of the K-7 with an exciting new 16.3 megapixel APS-C sensor to create an appealingly well-specified, intuitive and customisable DSLR with few real drawbacks. Virtually identical to the K-7, Pentax haven't taken...

Nov, 2010
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Expert review by : Mike Tomkins, Shawn Barnett and Zig Weidelich (imaging-resource.com)

Pentax K-5

 

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...

Extremely wide ISO range, excellent high ISO performance, one of the best APS-C sensors yet ; Very detailed images and very good dynamic range, especially from RAW ; 6.5 fps burst mode has very good buffer depths regardless of file type(s) ; Unusually...

Steep learning curve (but intuitive once familiar) ; Default saturation and contrast a bit high, auto white balance too warm in tungsten light ; 18-55mm kit lens isn't on par with the camera body (but not bad for a sub-$150 lens) ; No middle ground...

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...

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Expert review by : Shutterbug (shutterbug.com)

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...

Nov, 2011
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Expert review by : Christopher Snow (reviewed.com)

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...

Jun, 2011
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Expert review by (consumersearch.com)

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

Apr, 2011
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Expert review by : Philip Ryan (popphoto.com)

Lab Test: Pentax K-5

 

With New York City pummeled by multiple snowstorms this winter, our staff was happy to have the Pentax K-5 around. Fully weathersealed and built to function in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, Pentax's new flagship DSLR ($1,470, body only;...

Feb, 2011
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