Pentax K-5
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
- Revealed December 2010
- Replaced the Pentax K-7
- Successor is Pentax K-5 IIs
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
60 Imaging
56 Features
82 Overall
66
Pentax K-5 overview
Pentax K-5 is Pentax's Advanced DSLR digital camera originally announced on December of 2010. The camera houses a 16MP, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4928 x 3264.
Pentax introduced this model in order to upgrade the previous Pentax K-7 (Read Full Comparison) & subsequently launched the fresher Pentax K-5 IIs (Read Full Comparison) to upgrade this camera.
The K-5 is positioned #38 out of 92 in Advanced DSLR cameras & all round #216 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. You can check our Advanced camera search to get camera ratings based on your custom factors.
The following is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.
Pentax K-5 history
The Pentax K-5 has a history of related cameras. Below, you can find all older and the latest models along with key specs.
Pentax K-5 Gallery
You can check the K-5 from various angles in the gallery here.
Pentax K-5 Pros and Cons
Below is a selection of upsides and downsides of the Pentax K-5 based on criterias that are oftentimes seen as necessary in a digital camera.
Pentax K-5 Sensor specifications
The Pentax K-5 is run by the Prime II chip. The size of the sensor in the Pentax K-5 is 23.7mm x 15.7mm (APS-C). The 372 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 4928 x 3264 pixels and aspect ratios of 3:2. The camera features Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Optical stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter can cause cropping.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe CMOS sensor has 16MP and delivers a standard ISO range of 80 - 12800. This ISO can be increased electronically to a high of 51200. RAW files are saved which means that the user has wider room to maneuver in post.
The graphic below illustrates the K-5's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The K-5 sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is highlighted in green.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsTo get an idea of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Pentax K-5 dimensions
Pentax K-5 has a weight of 1.63 lbs (740 gr / 26.10 ounces) & the measurement of the camera is 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9"). The weight of general Advanced DSLR camera is 776 gr so the Pentax K-5 is very similar when compared with other competitors.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe following is a pic of the Pentax K-5 besides a soda so you're able to get a sense of its scale.
The top view here will illustrate the button arrangement on the K-5.
Pentax K-5 Lens specifications
The K-5 fits the Pentax KAF2 mount and has 17 lenses available on the market. Below is a few of the lenses we have in our collection which will fit the K-5.
Pentax K-5 Connectivity
The K-5 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
- GPS Yes
Cameras which include NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You are able to send images and at times adjust camera settings without connecting straight to the camera.
Several applications even give a Liveview and press the shutter whenever you aren't near the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it could be attached to an external display. The majority of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery through the USB port.
Pentax K-5 Video specifications
The highest video quality in the Pentax K-5 is 1920 x 1080 and you can shoot in Motion JPEG file format. 1080p quality will provide a decent balance in video quality and file sizes but FULL HD is not going to leave you with any room to crop. While the camera offers a mic jack, it is sadly lacking a headphone jack which means that you will not have the ability to monitor your sound levels.
Pentax K-5 Weather Sealing
Pentax K-5 provides environment sealing which makes it a good choice for use in challenging climates. This is especially useful if you are unsure about the conditions you may face in outdoor photography.
Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder
The Pentax K-5 is equipped with a 3 inch fixed display screen supporting a resolution of 921 thousand dots.
Sadly the display screen isn't a touch screen. The K-5 also includes a Top LCD screen in order to quickly checkout camera settings.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe ViewFinder specs for Pentax K-5 are below:
- ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
- Coverage 100%
- Magnification 0.61x
Viewfinders can be really beneficial in bright outdoor conditions which might make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to see.
Pentax K-5 Shutter specifications
Pentax K-5 continuous shooting speed is 7.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds.
Pentax K-5 Flash and Hot shoe specifications
Pentax K-5 features both inbuilt flash as well as external flash ability. The max flash sync speed is 1/180 seconds.
Pentax K-5 Autofocus specifications
Pentax K-5 features both Phase Detect Auto Focus as well as Contrast Based Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & accurate when compared to Contrast Based focusing. The camera supports Face detection making it valuable for portraits.
It supports 11 focus points to select from. It also comes with Tracking Auto Focus for moving things. Pentax K-5 includes manual focusing if needed in low light occasions or you want more accurate control on focusing.
Pentax K-5 Battery life
The battery power (D-LI90) in the Pentax K-5 is built to last for 980 clicks according to the CIPA benchmarks which is about the same as it's rivals. The typical Advanced DSLR camera battery life is 909. Nikon D780 has got the highest (2260) battery life in this range of cameras.
Below is a listing of Advanced DSLR cameras which have the highest battery life:
Pentax K-5 for different forms of photography
The following graph indicates a overview of the Pentax K-5 for different forms of photography. To learn more, check out the specific section below.
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography advice
The Pentax K-5 gets a points tally of 73 which is nice, and means the camera is a fine option for portraits. Taking portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor dimensions, support for RAW photos plus the potential to use external lighting.
Pentax K-5 Street photography information
Getting a very good score of 66, the Pentax K-5 is a respectable fit to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera comes with a fine balance of image quality and portability.
Pentax K-5 Sports photography info
A excellent sports photography points tally of 78 means the Pentax K-5 is a brilliant choice for shooting sports. A camera really should have excellent focusing plus continuous shooting for sports photography.
Pentax K-5 Travel photography features
Size is extremely critical in getting a travel camera. All things considered, the Pentax K-5 gets a nice 65 for a travel camera which makes it a very decent option to purchase for your journeys.
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography info
For anybody looking to choose a digital camera for landscape photography, the biggest factor will no doubt be image quality. The Pentax K-5 with it's excellent score of 78 for a landscape camera is a brilliant choice in the current marketplace.
Pentax K-5 Vlogging information
A vlogging camera should offer a moving screen, mic input and if possible IBIS. Considering every thing, the Pentax K-5 is just not very good as a vlog camera as it gets a bad rating of 33.
Pentax K-5 Alternatives
If you are trying to find replacements to the K-5, below is a range of the highest ranked cameras that fall in to the class of Advanced DSLR.
The line chart underneath will give you a bird's eye view of the K-5 vs it's highest scoring competitors shown earlier.
These are some more cameras you may view as alternate options. To review a complete comparison, visit the "compare" link.