New DSLR - Pentax K5

[HinFrance]

Just got this month's Chasseur d'Images. Reviews of D7000 and K5.

Cut to the chase, they love them both. They find only minor ergonomic and real world use differences between them. Both get 5 stars.

I won't go over the nit picking shortcomings, just let's say we know the Pentax video mode could be better to put it mildly, has fewer AF cross points, that the Nikon has yellowy pictures by default, isn't weatherproof and the controls a bit too light and fiddly, and that neither have a floppy screen.

I am definitely looking forward to my K5 arriving

[Mr Bump]

We have now seen several reviews of the K5 including Angela Nicholson's review posted here in a separate thread today.

The most comprehensive review I have read so far is by Neocamera. There are very few stones left unturned and additionally plenty of sample images.

The one feature that disappointed Neocamera and surprised me is that in Live View mode the K5 apparently does not accurately preview exposure and the histogram relates to what is shown on screen, not actual exposure. This is referred to in three places in the lengthy review.

Otherwise, the review indicates the K5 to be a truly excellent camera in very many respects.

[HinFrance]

Thanks Bumpy. I have used live view precisely once in the two years I have owned my K20D, so I shall note this shortcoming, file it in my memory and then forget about it

I'd be annoyed that there is no tethered shooting, unlike the K20D, except that my laptop died some months ago and that was a feature I'd never used.

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by HinFrance

Thanks Bumpy. I have used live view precisely once in the two years I have owned my K20D, so I shall note this shortcoming, file it in my memory and then forget about it

I'd be annoyed that there is no tethered shooting, unlike the K20D, except that my laptop died some months ago and that was a feature I'd never used.

An interesting point, H, is that none of the reviews I have seen have anything to say about the bundled software. Perhaps the reviewers feel they have covered it previously but I think there is no harm in reiterating. It is generally accepted, for example, that the Canon bundled software is more comprehensive than that provided ny Nikon. The £170 cost of Capture NX can be an unwelcome extra. I have no idea how the Pentax software compares and whether it allows tethering. It would be helpful if somone could comment on this.

[HinFrance]

When I get the camera, I'll let you know. I suspect it will be a customised version of Silkypix as accompanied previous Pentaxes.

I know some people use DPP exclusively. Until DxO have the modules for the K5 I'll probably be shooting in DNG so that I can still process RAW with that.

[Sue Allen]

Combination of cashback and some interest free credit made me decide what to go for more quickly than intended [had been reading previews/reviews/reports for a few weeks though!]...got a K-5 today ...watch the price drop now...

[Mr Bump]

Congratulations Sue Everything we have heard and read suggests that you have made a very wise choice and should really enjoy using your K-5. Please let us know in due course how you get on and what you particularly like about it.

BTW the K5 is getting such good reviews that I doubt the price will drop for some time - and you will have the satisfaction of being ahead of the pack.

[Sue Allen]

Initial thoughts...
Perfect size for me - just what I wanted, a sturdy weathersealed body with easy to reach controls without the extra size that usually entails. One minor irritant is the difficulty removing the SD card due to the rubber seal - two slots would have been nice! Went out in the sun yesterday morning and snapped away just to get the feel and see how easy it was to alter the things you tend to want to do quickly - having been using the D3100 for the past few weeks it took a while to get used to switches and buttons again rather than dipping into menus, but it's not too dissimilar to using the D300s. Big mistake was not changing the picture mode which was set to 'bright' by default - lets just say the colours and saturation might have been set up by Ken Rockwell!! Changing to 'natural' was rather more to my taste - although I must say, bearing in mind I was shooting JPEG, I was able to play around with the images a good deal and get a few keepers.
AF - I shall have to wait to form a real opinion until I get a suitable lens. I bought a s/hand Sigma 17-70 [non hsm] as it's a lens that I really like - focussing with that is nice and quick and accurate. My other initial purchase was the 55-300mm - SRS do it for much less than most and there's an additional £20 cashback - even on the K-5 this is slooooooooow! The whisper quiet shutter release of the K-5 might be great for wildlife but the whirring and grinding sound of the 55-300 would have frightened them off long ago!!
So now it's just a case of deciding what fast[er] main lens to add - bit worried about some reports on the failure rate of Pentax motors [short warranty period too].

[HinFrance]

I'm jealous. I ordered a 35mm f2.4 to go with mine and the lens not being in stock has delayed the whole shebang.

You might want to try getting some more second hand lenses - the autofocus ones from the 90s are amongst my favourites - they seem to have far fewer elements in them. I've got a Tamron 80-210 AF which locks focus on my K20D faster than the kit lens. The 50mm f1.4 is really quick too.

I read somewhere in the numerous reviews that HSM/SDM lenses actually focus more slowly than the standard ones by about 10%.

Anyway, look forward to hearing more from you on this

[Sue Allen]

I shall keep watch on ebay and all the second hand lists for anything interesting. Lets just say if I could attach my Nikkor 70-300 vr I'd be very happy! Just did a side by side with the D3100/70-300 and K-5/55-300 - through the open kitchen window pointing at the birds having their breakfast - one up to Nikon as the sound of the Pentax lens grinding away scattered the birds before it locked focus!!