Just received K5 - initial impressions

I think they did the same thing with the K-7 and you could get it done on a bulk standard body as well but it had to be sent to China (or you had to live there .. something like that anyway).

I'm sure I'll get used to the grip, it's a small price to pay for the other benefits of the K5 - to add to my list:

Pressing green button for auto iso is very useful as are dedicated Iso and Exp Comp buttons

LCD lighting option is a good idea too

My hands are fairly small (for a male) but I do find I hold my K-5 with the little finger under the body rather than on the grip (not that I had a K20 to compare it to, but with my wife's Canon 30D my little finger holds on the grip).

However I find I actually prefer it that way because while it isn't perhaps as 'comfortable', it feels like it gives me a firmer grip on the body overall. With a larger grip the only way a camera could really slip out of your hand is bottom first, but with your little finger supporting it underneath even that can't happen, leaving practically zero chance of dropping the camera at all.

First impression are

I had the K7 but sold it before Christmas. I forgot how small a form factor it is after getting familiar with the second hand K20 I had over the past 6 months. I much prefer this body to the 20

Hooked up my 77mm when it arrived and I'm just bowled over by the 5's performance indoors in low light. I can't wait to take it places that I worried about taking the K7/20 previously.

I got my K5 yesterday, courtesy of SRS (ordered on Tuesday am). The neighbours took it in for me from Parcelforce during the day. I was at home for an hour before the neighbours returned for me to collect it from them

Four and a half hours to charge the battery was purgatory, completed 00:05 Wednesday, so a few street shots out of the bedroom window to kick off.

Ser.No. 4008xxx, build date 24/02/11, v1.01 just upgraded to v1.03 and zero shutter count to start with.

Just test shots at the moment, mainly with 18-55 Mk1 as it seems to suit better, balance-wise but will swap to 16-45 for better IQ.

Agree with Simon and not Mike-P for now; the LH grip is almost not there!

Time to persevere and get to know it at the weekend.

Forgot to say
Mine was a 4020xxx from SRS (haven't checked the build date)

v1.01 upgraded to v1.03