K5 vs M4/3

Hi,
I have a Pentax K5 which I love, but I keep getting tempted by the small size and super fast focus of some M4/3s cameras - especially the Olympus EP-3 and the Panasonic GX1.
Does anyone own either of these cameras as well as a K5?
It would be great if you do if you could share your experiences.

Thank you,
John Pennington.

I have a GF1, which is similar in form to the GX1 even if the GX1 supposedly has much better high ISO performance. I graduated from the GF1 to my K5. I can't quite bring myself to sell the GF1 but I don't get much use of it now. I don't find the extra bulk of the K5 too much of a pain in most situations and I like the better IQ, speed and handling of it.

The liveview on the GF1 is much better than on the K5 so it is good for shooting from the hip for street photography

Thank you for your reply.
I have played with an Olympus EP-3, and the touch screen focus and shoot was virtually instantaneous. My worry is that I would miss the high iso and DR of the K5.

I have had a GX1 for a very short period of time and I have to say I was not impressed by the noise handling or the DR so it was sold. Not so sure how good is the EP-3. I am toying with the idea of a EM-5 but it is a lot of cash and a lot of replicated lenses to get it as a functional system (at least 14,20 and 45 primes plus the body and the grips).

So for the time being I have decided that K-5 with primes if I want to go "light" it is.

If either prices for the EM-5 fall, or more models are added to the line up they can be a very credible alternative to Pentax. You get better IBIS, even smaller bodies, a nice big viewfinder and some fantastic small, competitively priced primes. IQ is not quite K-5/D7k levels but only by a small amount and there are no fast zooms, (two Panasonic ones have been shown as "concepts") but it all comes down to how much those two disadvantages affect your photography and if you can swallow the rather high price of EM-5.

People's experiences with other marques are off-topic for this forum, please stick to Pentax-related subjects. Many thanks.

Yes, sir.

The very short version of my experience is: I went into a shop looking for a micro 4/3rds system and walked out with a K-5 instead.

And that's it, the longer version: I looked at one (can't remember which one Oly or Pana) but one with an EVF in a fake Pentaprism - and not the OM-D. I panned the camera and saw a very laggy update in the finder and horrible aliasing on straight lines. I decided an EVF would annoy me all the time, spotted a K-r in the cabinet (not significantly larger), then a K-5, held it and bought it. It helped I had a load of Pentax lenses from my film days, but I had gone out to go micro 4/3rds.

Thread tidied up and PMs sent where appropriate.

So people can't post their experiences with non Pentax cameras as a comparison to Pentax Cameras?

I thought it was a reasonable question. After all, Pentax cameras do not exist in isolation, but in an open marketplace.
Thank you everyone for their friendly approach to a new forum member.

It's bad enough comparing just Pentax stuff
There are just too many possible permutations if you start
bringing in other marques.... that's why it's better just
to confine this forum to Pentax gear, there are many other
sites for M4/3 etc.

There's even one site where you enter two cameras and it
lists good and bad points of both.

True, with brands and users that are secure enough in their products to allow comparisons and discussions about other cameras...

but with an adaptor u can use Pentax lens/es on the above system.

That produces even more permutations/combinations

Anybody good at stats?...... How many possibilities of 3 different
lenses on 3 different bodies?

Dear John

I spent many months last summer researching a new camera to upgrade from my (very good) compact digital. I looked at all the m4/3 cameras comparing specs and IQ and also looked at all the 'entry level' DSLR's. However, ONE camera just jumped out as being far superior in all respects (for my needs), including (especially) value for money. THAT is the camera I bought - the Pentax K-r !!! And I don't regret it. I was also pleased to see that just after I bought it PC Pro magazine came to the same conclusion !

Peter