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Pentax K-5 II

 
Pentax K-5 II front
 
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Pentax K-5 II summary

Pentax K-5 II is Pentax's Advanced DSLR digital camera initially revealed on June of 2013. It has a 16 MegaPixel, CMOS APS-C size sensor with a max resolution of 4928 x 3264.

Pentax brought out this model in an effort to update the older Pentax K-5 (Read Full Comparison)

The K-5 II places at #35 out of 92 in Advanced DSLR cameras & overall #203 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should try our Advanced camera finder to get camera results based on your personalized criteria.

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Here is a diagram of specific factors used in the rating system.

Pentax K-5 II history

The Pentax K-5 II is part of a family of cameras. You can view the detailed list below.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Pentax-K-3-Mark-III front thumbnailPentax K-3 III
K-5 II vs K-3 III
26MPAPS-C12.0 fps2021
Pentax-KP front thumbnailPentax KP
K-5 II vs KP
24MPAPS-C7.0 fps2017
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M
Pentax-K-3-II front thumbnailPentax K-3 II
K-5 II vs K-3 II
24MPAPS-C8.3 fps2015
Pentax-K-S1 front thumbnailPentax K-S1
K-5 II vs K-S1
20MPAPS-C5.4 fps2014
Pentax-K-3 front thumbnailPentax K-3
K-5 II vs K-3
24MPAPS-C8.0 fps2014
Pentax-K-5-IIs front thumbnailPentax K-5 IIs
K-5 II vs K-5 IIs
16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2013
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability
Pentax-K-5-II front thumbnailPentax K-5 II16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2013

Pentax K-5 II Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of advantages and drawbacks of the Pentax K-5 II based on aspects that are usually considered crucial in a digital camera.

built-in flash
builtin Top screen
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good minimum ISO (100)
has external microphone jack
has face detection focusing
has HDMI support
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has phase detect AF
has tracking autofocus
high resolution screen (921 thousand dot)
manual focus
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
weather proofing
doesn't have headphone jack
screen is fixed
screen is not selfie friendly
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Pentax K-5 II Sensor features

The Pentax K-5 II is powered by the Prime II chip. The spec of the sensor in the Pentax K-5 II is 23.7mm x 15.7mm (APS-C). The 372 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4928 x 3264 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Sensor stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter can lead to cropping.

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The CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels and has a standard ISO range of 100 - 12800. The ISO can be expanded digitally to 80 - 51200. RAW files are supported so the user has more room to maneuver in post.

The picture below displays the K-5 II's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The K-5 II sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is pointed out in green.

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To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Pentax K-5 II dimensions

Pentax K-5 II weighs in at 1.68 pounds (760 grams / 26.81 ounces) & has outside size of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9"). The weight of typical Advanced DSLR camera is 776 grams so the Pentax K-5 II is very much the same when compared with its rivals.

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Listed below is a visual of the Pentax K-5 II beside a softdrink to help you get a sense of its size.

Pentax K-5 II dimensions scale

The top view directly below will provide the button arrangement on the K-5 II.

Pentax K-5 II topview buttons dials

Pentax K-5 II Lens features

The K-5 II uses the Pentax KAF2 mount and has 17 lenses that you can purchase. Here is a few of the lenses we have in our collection that will work with the K-5 II.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Samsung-D-Xenon-18-250mm-F3.5-6.3 lensSamsung D-Xenon 18-250mm F3.5-6.318-250mmf/3.5-6.3 455g
Pentax-smc-DA-50-135mm-F2.8-ED-IF-SDM lensPentax smc DA 50-135mm F2.8 ED IF SDM50-135mmf/2.8 685g
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HD-Pentax-DA-55-300mm-F4.0-5.8-ED-WR lensHD Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR55-300mmf/4.0-5.8 466g
Venus-Laowa-105mm-F2-Smooth-Trans-Focus-Pentax-KAF2 lensVenus Laowa 105mm F2 Smooth Trans Focus105mmf/2745g
Irix-45mm-F1.4-Pentax-KAF-Mount lensIrix 45mm F1.445mmf/1.4925g
Samsung-D-Xenon-12-24mm-F4-ED-Pentax-KAF lensSamsung D-Xenon 12-24mm F4 ED12-24mmf/4.0 430g
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Samsung-D-Xenon-18-55mm-F3.5-5.6 lensSamsung D-Xenon 18-55mm F3.5-5.618-55mmf/3.5-5.6 225g
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Pentax K-5 II Connectivity

The K-5 II has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Digital cameras that come with NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity can be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can transfer files and usually adjust camera settings without connecting directly with the camera.

Many apps also provide a Liveview and hit the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera has a HDMI port, it can be connected to an external screen. A lot of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Pentax K-5 II Video features

The max video resolution in the Pentax K-5 II is 1920 x 1080 and you can save in Motion JPEG file format. 1080p resolution is an excellent balance for video quality vs file size but 1080p isn't going to give you any room to downsample. Although the body contains a microphone socket, it is sadly missing a headphone socket so you will not be able to monitor your sound levels.

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Pentax K-5 II Weather Sealing

Pentax K-5 II features weather proofing making it a fantastic selection for use for tough climates. This is particularly beneficial any time you are not sure about the elements you may encounter for outdoor photography.

Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder

The Pentax K-5 II has a 3 inch fixed display with a resolution of 921 thousand dots.

Unfortunately the display isn't a touch screen. The K-5 II also has a Top screen so you're able to instantly view the camera's settings.

Pentax K-5 II screen and viewfinder Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

The View Finder specifications for Pentax K-5 II are the following:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.61x

For bright outdoor situations that make the camera displays washed out and challenging to see, viewfinders are rather valuable.

Pentax K-5 II Shutter features

Pentax K-5 II continuous shooting speed is 7.0 fps. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds.

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Pentax K-5 II Flash and Hot shoe features

Pentax K-5 II comes with both built-in flash along with external flash support.

Pentax K-5 II Autofocusing features

Pentax K-5 II comes with both Phase Detect AF as well as Contrast Based AF. Phase Detection focusing is more quicker & exact compared to Contrast Based focusing. The camera has Face detection which is handy for taking portraits of people.

It has 11 focus points to pick from. It also boasts Tracking AF for subjects on the move. Pentax K-5 II comes with manual focusing if needed for low light situations or you need to have more exact focusing control.

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Pentax K-5 II Battery life

The battery pack (D-LI90) in the Pentax K-5 II is made to last for 980 clicks as per the CIPA requirements making it comparable with it's competition. The usual Advanced DSLR camera battery life is 909. Nikon D780 comes with the maximum (2260) battery life for this range of cameras.

Following is a collection of Advanced DSLR cameras having the best battery life:

Pentax K-5 II for varying categories of photography

The following illustration provides a rundown of the Pentax K-5 II for varying categories of photography. To find out more, scroll to the specific paragraph below.

Pentax K-5 II as a Portrait photography camera

The Pentax K-5 II has a score of 74 which is above average, meaning that it is a fine choice to use for portrait images. Shooting portraits favors heavily to sensor dimensions, support for RAW files in addition to the potential to work with off-camera flash.

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focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files

Street photography with Pentax K-5 II

Getting a above average rating of 67, the Pentax K-5 II is a respectable option for street photography. A decent street photography camera has a perfect balance of picture quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen does not articulate

Pentax K-5 II as a Sports photography camera

A great sports photography points total of 79 suggests the Pentax K-5 II is a brilliant choice for taking photos of sports. A camera really should have very good autofocus plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF

Pentax K-5 II Travel photography highlights

Portability is very critical when getting a camera for travel. All things considered, the Pentax K-5 II gets a very good 65 as a travelling camera which is a respectable pick to buy for your vacations.

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environment sealing
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly

Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography factors

For anyone looking to pick a digital camera for landscape photography, the most critical factor will no doubt be image quality. The Pentax K-5 II with it's outstanding grade of 79 as a landscape camera is a brilliant choice within the current marketplace.

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you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof

Pentax K-5 II Vlogging information

A camera for vlogging really should offer a moving screen, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Pentax K-5 II is just not very good as a vlog camera as it gets a terrible rating of 33.

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has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly

Pentax K-5 II Alternatives

If you are interested in replacements to the K-5 II, below is a selection of the highest placed cameras that fall in to the class of Advanced DSLR.

The chart just below gives you a summary of the K-5 II versus it's top rated rivals suggested above.

These are various other cameras you may take into account as alternative options. To look at a comprehensive comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Pentax
Model type
Pentax K-5 II
Class
Advanced DSLR
Announced
2013-06-04
Body design
Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Powered by
Prime II
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor measurements
23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area
372.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Peak resolution
4928 x 3264
RAW support
Highest native ISO
12800
Highest enhanced ISO
51200
Lowest native ISO
100
Lowest enhanced ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points
11
Cross type focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount type
Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses
151
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3"
Resolution of screen
921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech
TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.61x
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
82
DXO Color Depth rating
23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating
14.1
DXO Low light rating
1235
Features
Min shutter speed
30 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed
7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
760 gr (1.68 lb)
Physical dimensions
131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
Other
Battery life
980 images
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery ID
D-LI90
Self timer
Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
Single
Launch price
$830