DA 12-24 + K5 for Northern Lights

Thank you all for good advice!

Bjørn

When regarding the K-5 and cold temperatures, I don't think you have to worry.
If you keep it free of any kind of moisture (watch your breathing...) you should be fine. The issue is just if you get ice on it, and forget to take precautions when taking it indoors. If you are really unlucky, your screen will go.

Paul, external battery supply will not really help that much.
Every battery that I know of have a very bad efficiency in cold weather.
Just look at how useless smartphones are outside in -15C.

My best advice for long trips outside with cold weather (remember that open sky and wind makes it colder than measured) is to take spare batteries and heat packs.

Normally a LiPo battery might claim it have 5% power left, but ones it comes inside with around 20C it is back to 70% power.
You can mimic this effect with heat packs. Take a few packs with you and keep them with your spare batteries. These are now tempered, and when the one in the camera stops, change, and put the 'depleted' battery with the heat pack and it will be back up to 70% in no time.

In extreme cold you could always wrap a scarf around your camera.

Same here. I never worry about the ISO for most situations. I usually use TAv mode, set shutter and aperture and let ISO follow.

Thank you Smeggy!

My conclusion so far: Even though there are really no fast UWA options for Pentax besides Samyang 14mm f2.8 and Da 14mm 2.8, it does not really matter, because the K-5 is so good at high ISO performance.

Today is a day of personal celebration I have finally purchased a Pentax DA 12-24mm. This investment means that a K-5 is put on hold into the unknown future. I will have to stick with my K20D for the time being. Maybe I now get a chance to learn how to get the most out of the camera

Thank you all again for your good advice!

Bjørn

Congratulations Bjørn! Enjoy your new lens - I look forward to some wonderful Aurora photos

Now you can start saving for the the K-5II .

Thank you very much Gwyn! I will off course share my Aurora attempts with the new lens, and I believe your suggestion above, with longer exposures, is a good way to get the most out of my new/current equipment. Images of Auroras with 20-30 seconds exposure can turn out to be equally interesting to those caught with shorter exposures. It all depends on the speed and intensity of the Aurora, and the weather conditions. What is more important, is to have a lens that is wide enough to capture the Aurora and some foreground elements (water, trees, etc.). Based on some test shots today, the DA 12-24mm seems to be a fantastic lens, very sharp from corner to corner. I cannot wait to get out and do some real shooting

Bjørn

I have had no problem getting decent shots with that lens even wide open. Have fun!

Congratulations Bjørn! It is a fantastic lens as you say, enjoy it!

Thank you Robin and Giorgio!

Bjørn