Want to upgrade from *istDS to K-5...

Hi all,

The title says it, and I think that it would be a night-and-day upgrade. I've shot Pentax since the 1970s (KM, MX) and got the DS when it came out. I shoot RAW to get the most out of the camera, but the time has come to upgrade, and keep the DS as a second body.

So I want to go for the K-5, but having done some research around the web, I'm a little wary because of the many issues that seem to be out there with mirror-flop/phantom firing when any control is pressed. Is this a real mass issue?

Cheers for your feedback.

Martyn

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K-3II - HD DA20-40 Limited, HD DA55-300PLM, SMC DA10-17 Fishy, AF201FG Flashy

Hi Martyn

Most of us have never had a problem.

Have there been genuine issues reported? yes and we all probably know of somebody who has had an issue.

In truth, I suspect that the K5 has no more or less potential issues than any modern DSLR. Do a google search for any make and model followed by the word 'problems' and you will certainly find them.

That is one of the problems with the web - everybody with problems reports problems - rarely does anybody report that they have not had any.

I suspect if the web had been in use when the MX was current - it would have been no different.

Do not be swayed by the doom and gloom merchants - the K5 is a stunning camera

Carl

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No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more

Thanks for the voice of sanity, Carl. That's pretty much confirmed what I thought. Yes indeed, there were naysayers on the MX way back when you could only get opinions from such august publications such as Amateur Photographer - but the little beauty served me faultlessly for more than 25 years until I got the DS, which has the same ergonomic charm that the MX still does.

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K-3II - HD DA20-40 Limited, HD DA55-300PLM, SMC DA10-17 Fishy, AF201FG Flashy

He's dead right you know,I decided to try this and typed in the K5's main competitor followed by problems, take a look at what came up !!
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=9&gs_id=y&xhr=t&q=d7000+problems&pf=p&...

Get it. I have had absolutely no problems with mine. It's a fantastic camera and this is the time to get one, doubt if it will get much cheaper.

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Flickr link

Get it.

I had sensor staining on my first one, which was also one of the first available after release. The replacement has been no problem and has been put through a lot.

I went from the Ds to the K20D to the K-5. I wish I'd cut out the middle step tbh. I loved my Ds, hated the K20D and love the K-5.

I miss my Ds .

I'm convinced, I'm convinced! Thanks for your input, all!

;D

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K-3II - HD DA20-40 Limited, HD DA55-300PLM, SMC DA10-17 Fishy, AF201FG Flashy

I recently got the K5 after much dithering - no regrets here

Was it Shadwell on not the 9'Oclock news that said "My friends said go for it, I went for it - it had gone"

I'd say go for it - if you have tesco vouchers you can still double them up for jessops vouchers - that's what I did

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K10D, K5 plus plenty of clueless enthusiasm.

My Flickr site link

For anyone who likes statistics -
The conclusion from the results of a recent investigation of my cameras (a K-r and a K-5) is that 100% of my Pentax DSLRs have been 100% reliable over 100% of their lives.

Philip

My first K-5 had a knackered AF in low light. SRS replaced it for me and I bought a 2nd K-5 a few days later. My current K-5s have worked perfectly

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[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

Not sure how much use the AF would get; I'm currently running a trio of manual focus A lenses, 28/2.8, 50/1.7 and 70-210/4. (More interested in the dynamic range and noise performance over the AF.) Haven't used the original DS kit lens for quite a while as focussing manually on the DS is not hard, and after all these years is still fun. I occasionally take my SuperTak 50/1.4 out for a spin with a K adapter, and even my old pre-set Tak 135/3.5! I'm no sports photographer, so don't need lightning-reflex AF (whatever did sports photographers do before the invention of AF?!).

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K-3II - HD DA20-40 Limited, HD DA55-300PLM, SMC DA10-17 Fishy, AF201FG Flashy

Had a more stressful and harder time

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[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