K5, was it worth the wait?

Do I detect doubts creeping in about the K5 here and on all the associated threads on the subject:

I decided to skip the K7 - happyish with the K20. For me if the K5 focussing and sensor is better then I will go K5 then skip K3 until K1.

But are we all suffering from 'expectation drop'. We have been bleating on for a year about the new model. Now it's here we are picking holes in it - human nature I guess

Whilst I agree, I'm sure viewfinder will be along soon to say that you don't know him or his requirements so how can you say that something suitable for you is also suitable for him.

No.

Certainly the AF seems to be more responsive, from the video posted by that Spanish(?) guy, high ISO would appear to have been improved. Also, a small change (as far as I know) is the changing of the RAW button to be a Function button too, so it can be programmed to do other stuff. That's something that's been requested many times on here, especially by Mattmatic I seem to recall. Certainly makes sense for those that don't need to easily switch between raw and jpeg.

Dan

I currently have a K200d and find it suits most of what I do.

However, I feel that a better feature set, brighter view finder etc, could tempt me to upgrade.

The burst frame rate on my current camera is slow, and slows even more after six or seven shots. This alone is making me think about something better(?) for those occasions I want to use burst mode.

The K5 wins out there, the K7 is better than what I have, it will all come down to price in the end.

By the way, I have no desire to leave the Pentax brand, IQ is far too good for that!

The vast majority of complaints for the K-7 were ISO and focus speed.

General consensus was put a K-x sensor in the K-7 and it will be 'perfect'

Now we have higher ISO performance than even the K-x, faster autofocus, more frames per second, 14bit RAW for higher IQ , 1080P video and other upgrades as well.

The difference between the K10 & K20 was little if you just read spec sheets, or 'quite a lot' if you actually owned both of them. I have a feeling the K-5 will fall into the same camp, those that read spec sheets, and those that buy it and use it.

It's release price is the same as the K-7, but includes a kit lens, so is actually cheaper than the K-7 was, uses the same grip, batteries and accessories as the K-7, and has the highest ISO setting of any APS-C DSLR ever.

Was it worth the wait? YES!

OK, so the release price is the same as the K7 was, I was only looking at the cost as expensive in today's economic climate, where people don't have as much spare cash around.

The fact that Pentax are using the same grip etc is a boon for all of us, and the high ISO will get used.

I just wondered who was going for a K5 over/after a K7.

The K-7 was expensive when it was launched just as the K-5 is now but prices will be a bit more reasonable in a few months.

Admittedly it was several months after the launch dates for my cameras but I bought the K10D and kit lens for £399 and my GX20 body only for £299 when they were both the most current models at the time and I haven't seen the K-7 fall to anything like those prices so they are definately more expensive. When I bought my K10D it was between that and the Nikon D80 but the Nikon kit was £250 more expensive at the time!

Luckily for me I didn't want the K-7 and probably don't want the K-5 (though will have a little play with it when I get the opportunity).

Definately looking at getting one myself as looks like such a good camera all round. I have loved my K10D and it has served well and feel I have had more than my money's worth out of it. Now hope I will feel the same about the K5.

I hate top be picky but I think it's slightly behind a couple of the new Canons (and I believe they use a very slightly smaller sensor).

Having owned (in sequence) the K10d, K20d and K7 there was no doubt they were getting significantly better every time. The K7 felt like a proper camera should. If the K5 is the new (and vastly improved) K7 it will be a great camera.

What will really make the difference are some top-notch lenses with a faster SDM to really take advantage. Then Pentax has a real chance of gaining market share.

The K-5 is a tweaked K-7 without any killer features. It does not correct oversights that have been plaguing the line for a while. To give but two examples: it still does not allow for tethered shooting and it looks like there is no option to turn off dark frame subtraction for long exposures. Pentax could easily add these and other features that send certain photographers to the competition.

Instead they have added a faster shooting rate and improved AF, but these are still no match for much of what Canikon already offers. Trying to compete head-on with the big brands will not work, since Pentax can never offer the range of lenses, accessories and service plans of the market leaders. They should be carving out a niche by appealing to the particular needs of their following. In part they do this, but are not attentive enough. And their marketing is dire.

If this drives K-7 prices down then I might be able to afford one eventually. Other than that it is Yet Another Body. And next year there will be another. All will take great pictures.

The K-5 looks like a great camera to me but I shall be sticking to my K20D simply because (a) I don't have the cash and (b) if I did have the cash I'd rather spend it on one or two of the lenses I have on my list. I hope the K-5 sells like hot cakes for all our sakes. The new 18-135 does tempt me, however!

K.

early reports have it being a contender for the title "Fastest af in an aps- body"

K-5 = ISO 100-12800 expandable to 51,200

These are the new APS-C Canons that I can think of :-
7D = ISO 100-6400 expandable to 12800
60D = ISO 100-6400 expandable to 12800
550D = ISO 100-6400 expandable to 12800

Even beats Canon Full Frame :-
5D Mark 2 = ISO 100-6400 expandable to 25600

Beats new Nikon APS-C D7000 :-
D7000 = ISO 100-6400 expandable to 25600
Also
D300 = ISO 200-3200 expandable to 6400
D300s = ISO 200-3200 expandable to 6400

Beats Nikon Full Frame:-
D700 = ISO 200-6400 expandable to 25600
D3 = ISO 200-6400 expandable to 25600

The only cameras I am aware of that 'beat' it are

D3S = ISO 200-12800 expandable to 102,400
1D Mk4 = ISO 100-12800 expandable to 102,400

both of which have larger sensors (Full Frame for the Nikon, APS-H for the Canon), but the same base ISO as the K-5!!!

So in conclusion, I hate to be picky but I think all the newer Canons are slightly behind!

In all seriousness though, this is absolutely amazing for Pentax, the joint highest base ISO of any 'normal' camera currently available, and the highest figure of any APS-C AND low end Full Frame cameras!!

For those of you that read spec sheets, this genuinely is a wet dream for Pentax users, so lets wait for the reviews and hope it's as good as we think (and hope) it is!

Now, if that is true, I'm gonna have to work out how to get me hands on £1200!

Well I'll believe that when I see it and I wonder how much is down to the new lens

John