New DSLR - Pentax K5

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by Sue Allen

Manual? I don't understand the concept......

He was the waiter in Fawlty Towers

[Sue Allen]

hmmm....
I don't think it's a difficult camera to use - most of the controls are pretty logical. I tend to have a quick play to establish how to change the things I'm likely to want to alter quickly and then spend a few days just using the camera as much as I can until those controls become second nature. Then start to explore the depths of the menus.
I should have a faster focussing lens arrive today so I'm hoping to be able to give the af a better test over the weekend - fingers crossed it does'nt disappoint too much!
Some reports of quality control issues re sensor stains over at dpreview. I've done the in camera dust test and taken a couple of f22 shots - can't see anything there so hopefully it was a batch thing and not in uk sold models.

[HinFrance]

I bet when mine arrives it'll have the dirty sensor issue - that's just the way this purchase seems to be fated . .

[Mr Bump]

I sincerely hope that's not the case H. BTW thanks for the reminder about the firmware update. I also have to get the cashback claim in the post.

After a busy week I've only just managed to unpack mine and put the battery on charge. First impression - how good the K5 feels in the hand with everything being ideally located and it just oozes quality.

As regards operation manual reading (this one is 2cm thick), it depends what the manual is for. I'm totally comfortable with Nikon's logic and need very little manual delving. Same with Nokia phones. On the other hand, Panasonic's operating systems for many of their products seem to me to defy all logic and make their use hard work. Pentax is an unknown for me so I will quickly browse through the manual to see whether everything seems to make sense and to register in my mind what the camera can and can't do.

Everything here is shades of dull grey today and the snow is long since gone - so perhaps just indoor shots until tomorrow.

It will be interesting to see how the screw-drive AF of the 70mm Ltd compares with the SDM of the kit lens. I also have a new Class 10 Sandisk Extreme 30MB/s card to compare with my older SDHC card.

[Sue Allen]

The arrival of a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 HSM yesterday and a bit of sun today meant I could see what the af and tracking abilities of the K-5 really are. Where the 55-300 desperately whirrs and attempts to keep the subject in focus as it comes towards you, the HSM of the Sigma just works...silently! Experimenting with what I had...dog running towards me...flying birds etc.... Not the fastest of subjects, but it was easy to capture a series of a dozen or more in focus shots as my dog ran towards me. I tried this three times and each time the camera was capturing this number of shots before totally losing focus for around 3 shots - re-capturing focus and producing more in focus pictures - I'm assuming this could be down to the very slow card I was using.
I also tried the 'Alice chasing ball' test again - not easy to do when you have to throw the ball and then try to get the camera to your eye in time to get the shots! Again no problems other than the usual user errors.
Compared to the D300s with AF-s or HSM the K-5 does'nt perform too badly at all - although I'm sure for the really fast stuff the Nikon is still the best option. The fast fps really feel nice and smooth thanks to the lovely feel of the shutter. I think Pentax have upped their game af wise with the K-5 but it probably means paying out a bit for lenses if you want to take full advantage of the increased performance.
a few mainly cropped shots
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greypoi...th/5252751986/

[Mr Bump]

OK, after more than a week of ownership here are some comments on my K5 - the good and the not-so-good:

First the good: The K5 has proved to be exactly what I wanted. Compared with my previous Nikon D200 the body is compact and lighter (but not light) and at least as equally well made as the D200, if not better. The K5 with 70mm f2.4 Ltd lens fitted feels more like a film camera than the bulk associated with prosumer digital. To me the ergonomics are just about perfect with the K5 very comfortable to hold and all controls well positioned. I have found the menu system very intuitive and easy to navigate, with good clear graphics. Just the right amount of help information is provided without resorting to the hand-holding of entry-level DSLRs. Everything about the K5 says 'professional'. Image quality is just stunning. Shots can be taken very quietly if manual focus is used but AF is too loud for candid shots. However, AF is extremely quick in good light and still impressive in lower light. Overall this is a stunning and highly recommended camera.

Now the not-so-good: My K5 has proved to be one of those suffering sensor marks that cannot be cleaned off. There is much about this on the Internet and even in Amateur Photographer. In fact, Pentax has been so slow to issue any meaningful statement that rumours and, I suspect, a degree of mischief-making have run rife leading to panic. However, there is now a system in place to address the issue. Anyone having sensor marks (other than dust!) can ask their retailer to take back the K5. It will then be sent to Johnsons for checking. If the sensor marks are confirmed as not removable a replacement camera will be provided from new stock. I am told that Pentax identified the source of the problem and all K5 production now has 'clean' sensors. Dealers have been asked by Pentax to check all existing K5 stock for contaminated sensors so that no more are sold. None of this is formal from Pentax but has been confirmed by at least two Pentax Pro Centres. My K5 will go back for replacement. There is no question of me demanding a full refund as some owners have done - this camera is far too good to want any alternative.

BTW for anyone unsure, the way to check your sensor is: Activate Dust Removal and then carry out the Dust Alert procedure to make sure the sensor is dust-free. Then photograph a smooth white wall or sheet of white paper at f22, probably needing flash. Perhaps take two shots to be sure. Transfer images to the computer and view at 100%. A clean white image means no problem. The defects can look like smudges or spots with a halo - single or in clusters. There are plenty of examples on other forums.

[Sue Allen]

That's a shame - I've checked mine again [as some people seem to indicate it shows up after use] b ut it still looks OK to me. Hopefully it won't take too long to sort - SRS are apparently loaning K-7s to those who are really stuck.

DPReview finally have the K-5 review up and have upset the Nikon fanboys by rating it higher than the D7000 and giving it gold! Very odd this 'my brands better than yours mentality'. They give the lockable mode dial as a con - I find it a pro as I've been known to accidentally move the dial to M at just the wrong moment ajnd it only takes an extra second or so to use. Other cons are about video but I think reviews should rate video as a separate function and not as part of the main review - that way those who will actually use it can see what it will do and those with no interest can ignore it. It seems D7000 is a fair bit cheaper in the U.S.so that's a con too. A good review but I don't suppose there will be loads of Canon/Nikon users swapping to the K-5 as it's the sort of camera lower end Pentax users or older bodies will mainly go for given the price. I think the assumption of superior Nikon AF lies mainly in the number/type of focus points but, apart from some agility stuff, I always used centre point with my Nikons and with the K-5 it's fast enough for most things and really quick with the Sigma HSM [silent too!].

[HinFrance]

Mine arrived yesterday . . and it's a duffer:



I've emailed Pentax France and asked them what they propose to do about it.

[Sue Allen]

Who did you buy it from? What they should do is have it back and send you another - supposedly all new stock coming in has been checked.

[Sue Allen]

http://www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/to...ssues----24377

Another good reason for using SRS