New DSLR - Pentax K5

[HinFrance]

Indeed Sue, trouble is I had never heard of them until you mentioned them in dispatches.

Mine came from Bristol Cameras - but I didn't buy it - my friend bought it for me. Sending it back to the UK will cost €60 insured, so I'd rather get a solution from the local Pentax outfit if possible.

[Sue Allen]

Well at least the camera is useable as it is so you might as well try it out while you wait to get it sorted.

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by HinFrance

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

I'm really sorry to hear that H. You'd waited long enough as it is, so this must be gutting. The UK Pentax Pro Centres seem to be mainly (although not all) acting very responsibly and professionally over this issue. I have had the same sort of helpful reaction from Clifton Cameras (also near Bristol) that Sue Allen quotes SRS as giving.

By agreement I am hanging on to my K5 until after Christmas as this is not the best period to get the problem sorted. It will be picked up by Clifton in the new year and they say a replacement should be available within a week. I'm happy with that.

I can see your complication in returning yours to the retailer. Let's hope Pentax France will help.

Good to hear that Sue's K5 is OK. Thanks for your comments on DPReview Sue.

I am wondering where K5 purchasers stand if they bought grey imports or bought direct from the far east? I suspect they might be up a gum tree as I can't imagine Pentax UK being very sympathetic. Does anyone know?

[HinFrance]

Indeed it is usable - it's actually pretty hard to see the problem in most circumstances.

So I'll have to read the manual.

Initial impressions are:

1) It's too small. There is nowhere for the little finger on my right hand to go, I'll have to get a battery grip.
2) Sensor aside, the build quality appears to be very high and it is jolly solid
3) The ergonomics appear to be inferior to the K20D - no dedicated bracketing button is going to a real pain, and I haven't found a way yet to customise the functions of the e-dials (only about 20 pages into the manual so far).
4) Focusing is really quick.
5) Shutter is really quiet

I haven't shot any images 'in anger' yet, so I'll report back in due course

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by HinFrance

........
3) The ergonomics appear to be inferior to the K20D - no dedicated bracketing button is going to a real pain, and I haven't found a way yet to customise the functions of the e-dials (only about 20 pages into the manual so far).

You can customise the RAW/fx button for bracketing if the need to change to RAW format for single shots is not a priority.

I would also like to have seen Shake Reduction on/off more accessible. Unless I have missed something it is buried in the menus.

[Sue Allen]

I suppose the size thing is always going to be a matter of opinion and hand size - it was one of the major pros for me. Have'nt used a K20D for a couple of years so can't comment on the handling being better. I suppose it depends a bit on the things you want to change or use most often.

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by Sue Allen

I suppose the size thing is always going to be a matter of opinion and hand size - it was one of the major pros for me. Have'nt used a K20D for a couple of years so can't comment on the handling being better. I suppose it depends a bit on the things you want to change or use most often.

There seem to be two distinct camps - three-finger-grip and four-finger-grip. After years of using film cameras, which are generally smaller, it feels natural to me to have the small finger below the camera. It used to help prevent the camera sliding down in cold hands but the contoured grip of the K5 does that anyway.

Because my main photographic interests are travel/street photography the compactness of the K5 and its durable sealed construction make it absolutely ideal for me. I can understand that others might prefer a larger camera, particularly those regularly using large lenses - but then there is always the add-on grip option. If you get the optional battery grip H please let us know what you think.

[HinFrance]

I've found the e-dial customisation in the menus, although I haven't done it yet.

The body gives the impression of being very tough indeed.

I think that SR on/off is buried in the menu system, but to be honest, unless using a tripod I always leave it switched on anyway. The K20D/K10D does have an external switch for SR.

I'll be getting a grip from eBay, about £40 with a spare battery. Not weather sealed like the real thing, but should be OK, the K20D one is fine.

[HinFrance]

Been using it today for the weekend comp.

The combination of the pretty good higher ISO performance and DxO make using the K5 up to 3200 a no worries experience. I am shooting in RAW - I haven't tried the jpgs yet.

As Bump said earlier, the image quality is outstanding. So I'm prepared to get over the tiny size and missing buttons. It's a very impressive piece of kit. Just need to get one without the sensor marks

[GeoffWessex]

I see that the 'Shake Reduction' on/off control is on the 4th page of the 'Record' Menu. OK, generally you'd be in a situation where you're using your tripod most of the time or nothing most of the time... but I'd still have liked a little switch on the body, as it is on the K10. You also seem to have to go into the menu for several other things - maybe that's not a bad thing but I think I'd prefer the 'Fn' button on the back.