Positive K-5iis review
Credit to the chap also for what he states in the final paragraph when considering the price the K-5's go for today:
"The difference in price can easily make up for a better lens."
He presents a balanced argument for all of the flavours of the K-5 today.
Bob
My website (Hadfield Photography)
Pentax Gallery Artist page:link
Flickr Photostream: link
What does that mean???
"The difference in price can easily make up for a better lens."
He presents a balanced argument for all of the flavours of the K-5 today.
What if you already have the best lenses??
It does look promising though

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Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released

What if you already have the best lenses??

Well, yes, should you be in that position it might not apply to you!
I think its encouraging a reviewer has taken this approach because it really helps to put a spotlight over the Pentax stable in a much more general way. Drawing some attention on the original K-5 means Pentax have quite a few angles covered today. Interesting times.
Bob
My website (Hadfield Photography)
Pentax Gallery Artist page:link
Flickr Photostream: link
Credit to the chap also for what he states in the final paragraph when considering the price the K-5's go for today:
"The difference in price can easily make up for a better lens."
He presents a balanced argument for all of the flavours of the K-5 today.
I agree. I myself purchased a standard K-5 some weeks ago, and I believe the upgrade from K20D is massive. But I am happy that Pentax have improved an already excellent camera with the two upgrades/new models. It is indeed exciting times for Pentax

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The bottom line is that the Pentax K-5 IIs is an excellent camera which has almost every feature available to a DSLR. It brings flexibility and superior image quality to a variety of subjects in a compact and well thought-out design. This DSLR excels in low-light and is capable of producing very large and details prints. All this makes the K-5 IIs an excellent travel photography camera. For action photography where focus-speed is critical, the competition still shows a clear lead with their top-of-the-line APS-C and full-frame DSLRs.
Great review but that last sentence means there is no reason for me to move on from my K-5 MKI.
Maybe it's me but this is the first time since owning a Pentax DSLR that I haven't felt the urge to upgrade at all .. infact I find both cameras quite uninteresting. (never thought I would say that).
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infact I find both cameras quite uninteresting
That's fine, but don't you find the trend towards having no AA filter interesting? It could prove to be the way for the future and I find that interesting enough in itself.
Best regards, John
What needs to be highlighted of course, is the fact that the new AF features and the AA filter removal on the 's' model, place this new camera on a higher footing in performance comparison terms with competitors offerings.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
infact I find both cameras quite uninteresting
That's fine, but don't you find the trend towards having no AA filter interesting? It could prove to be the way for the future and I find that interesting enough in itself.
I'm with Mike on this. Sure the removal of the AA filter is 'interesting' but in practise it's made hardly any difference to the IQ.
The extra resolution only really being worth it on images that are printed or viewed full size, or heavily cropped.
Nothing in these K-5II or K-5IIs to make me upgrade my K-5MkIs either.
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
Nothing in these K-5II or K-5IIs to make me upgrade my K-5MkIs either.
Not even the '-3ev' AF functioning? That's practically moonlight isn't it?
It'll depend on where an individual is coming from and where they need to get to with their shots, and how much money they can easily burn through without a worry.
I'm interested in some more testing / user feedback on the real AF perfomance gains in the field. As far as the AA filter issue, I have long suspected that the higher 'resolution' out of the 'box' will only either gift you less sharpening work in PP, or (as Smeggy suggests) get you bigger printed output that retains acceptable sharpness without too much PP sharpening (and risk of artifacts creeping in).
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
The extra resolution only really being worth it on images that are printed or viewed full size
Yes, and for me that's the point. I do make large prints. If I only shot images for the web I wouldn't be thinking about it.
Best regards, John
seems like the AF performance is only significant in low light. Still, could be worthwhile for some people.
link
I was wondering, is this higher low light Autofocussing still fully dependant on thE green AF assist lamp, or does the system respond better even without using the light?
I'm with Mike on this. Sure the removal of the AA filter is 'interesting' but in practise it's made hardly any difference to the IQ.
I thought there had been forming a fair consensus that the increased 'resolution' was mostly 'there to see'.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Every time I think I want the new mk iis a review puts me off and leaves me heading towards the d600.
Will have to see when I actually get one in my hands to try....
PPG Wedding photography Flickr
Concert photography
Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released

Unless an individual has (for some reason) built up or obtained a collection of system items from 2 different brands, then a jump from one to the other must surely involve completely unjustifiable expense?
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Not even the '-3ev' AF functioning? That's practically moonlight isn't it?
To be fair though couldn't you argue the the lens used has the lions share of that capability rather than the body.
Bob
My website (Hadfield Photography)
Pentax Gallery Artist page:link
Flickr Photostream: link
bjolester
Member
Trondheim, Norway
http://www.neocamera.com/camera/pentax/k5iis/review
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