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Pentax K-5 IIs

 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
 
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Pentax K-5 IIs summary

Pentax K-5 IIs is Pentax's Advanced DSLR digital camera initially introduced on June of 2013. The camera features a 16MP, CMOS APS-C size sensor with a full resolution of 4928 x 3264.

Pentax introduced this model as a way to replace the older Pentax K-5 (Read Full Comparison)

The K-5 IIs is placed #33 out of 92 in Advanced DSLR cameras & over all #189 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please try out our Advanced camera filter to find camera ratings based on your personalized criteria.

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The following is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Pentax K-5 IIs history

The Pentax K-5 IIs has a history of related digital cameras. Listed below, you can see all past and newer models as well as important features.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Pentax-K-3-Mark-III front thumbnailPentax K-3 III
K-5 IIs vs K-3 III
26MPAPS-C12.0 fps2021
Pentax-KP front thumbnailPentax KP
K-5 IIs vs KP
24MPAPS-C7.0 fps2017
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Pentax-K-3-II front thumbnailPentax K-3 II
K-5 IIs vs K-3 II
24MPAPS-C8.3 fps2015
Pentax-K-S1 front thumbnailPentax K-S1
K-5 IIs vs K-S1
20MPAPS-C5.4 fps2014
Pentax-K-3 front thumbnailPentax K-3
K-5 IIs vs K-3
24MPAPS-C8.0 fps2014
Pentax-K-5-IIs front thumbnailPentax K-5 IIs16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2013
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Pentax-K-5-II front thumbnailPentax K-5 II
K-5 IIs vs K-5 II
16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2013

Pentax K-5 IIs Pros and Cons

Here is a list of advantages and disadvantages of the Pentax K-5 IIs based on factors which are typically regarded as essential in a digital camera.

built-in flash
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
comes with face detect focusing
comes with tracking focus
decent sized screen (3 inches)
delivers RAW files
does have Top screen
has HDMI port
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has mic port
has phase detect AF
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
manual focus
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
no low pass filter
screen has good resolution (921 thousand dot)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good minimum ISO (100)
weather sealing
doesn't have headphone port
does not contain selfie friendly screen
screen is fixed
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Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor features

The Pentax K-5 IIs is powered by the Prime II processor. The dimension of the sensor on the Pentax K-5 IIs is 23.7mm x 15.7mm (APS-C). The 372 mm² sensor can capture 4928 x 3264 pixels using aspect ratios of 3:2. The camera features Image Stabilization (Sensor based). In body stabilization is better than digital stabilization since the latter can cause cropping.

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The CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels and includes a standard ISO range of 100 to 12800. The ISO can be increased digitally to 80 to 51200. RAW files are saved which means that the user has more room to maneuver in post.

Pentax made the decision to omit the low pass filter inside the Pentax K-5 IIs. This may result in more clearer photographs but might create moire in some circumstances.

The image underneath illustrates the K-5 IIs's sensor size compared to other popular sizes. The K-5 IIs sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is displayed in green.

Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

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

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Pentax K-5 IIs dimensions

Pentax K-5 IIs weighs 1.68 pounds (760g / 26.81 ounces) & the dimensions of the camera is 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9"). The weight of average Advanced DSLR camera is 776g and the Pentax K-5 IIs is similar in comparison with its rivals.

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Down below is a image of the Pentax K-5 IIs beside a soda to help you to get a sense of its size.

Pentax K-5 IIs dimensions scale

The top view just below will show you the button layout on the K-5 IIs.

Pentax K-5 IIs topview buttons dials

Pentax K-5 IIs Lens features

The K-5 IIs fits the Pentax KAF2 mount and has 17 lenses available on the market. Here is some of the lenses we have in our collection that will fit the K-5 IIs.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Venus-Laowa-100mm-F2.8-2X-Ultra-Macro-APO-Pentax-KAF2 lensVenus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO100mmf/2.8638g
Samsung-D-Xenon-16-45mm-F4 lensSamsung D-Xenon 16-45mm F416-45mmf/4.0 365g
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Pentax-smc-DA-50-135mm-F2.8-ED-IF-SDM lensPentax smc DA 50-135mm F2.8 ED IF SDM50-135mmf/2.8 685g
Samsung-D-Xenon-12-24mm-F4-ED-Pentax-KAF lensSamsung D-Xenon 12-24mm F4 ED12-24mmf/4.0 430g
Samsung-D-Xenon-18-55mm-F3.5-5.6 lensSamsung D-Xenon 18-55mm F3.5-5.618-55mmf/3.5-5.6 225g
Samsung-D-Xenon-100mm-F2.8-macro lensSamsung D-Xenon 100mm F2.8 macro100mmf/2.8 345g
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Samsung-D-Xenon-35mm-F2-AL lensSamsung D-Xenon 35mm F2 AL35mmf/2.0 195g
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Pentax K-5 IIs Connectivity

The K-5 IIs has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Digital cameras with NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can copy images and at times change camera settings without connecting straight with the camera.

Many apps also stream a Liveview and release the shutter when you are not near the camera. If the camera features a HDMI port, it can be hooked up to an external screen. Virtually all cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Pentax K-5 IIs Video features

The highest possible video quality on the Pentax K-5 IIs is 1920 x 1080 and you can record in Motion JPEG file format. 1080p quality offers a decent balance in video quality versus file size but 1080p is not going to give you any room to crop. While the body offers a mic jack, it is missing a headphone jack which means that you won't have the capability to monitor your audio levels.

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Pentax K-5 IIs Weather Sealing

Pentax K-5 IIs comes with weather proofing making it a very good option for use in tricky conditions. This can be especially handy whenever you are not sure about the conditions you might face in outdoor photography.

Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder

The Pentax K-5 IIs features a 3 inch fixed display having a resolution of 921 thousand dots.

Please note that the display screen has no touch support. The K-5 IIs also comes with a Top screen so its possible to instantly look at camera settings.

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The ViewFinder details for Pentax K-5 IIs are below:

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

Viewfinders can be very beneficial in sunny outdoor conditions which can make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to see.

Pentax K-5 IIs Shutter features

Pentax K-5 IIs continuous shooting rate is 7.0 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000 sec.

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Pentax K-5 IIs Flash and Hot shoe features

Pentax K-5 IIs features both inbuilt flash together with external flash support. The highest flash sync is 1/180 sec.

Pentax K-5 IIs Autofocus features

Pentax K-5 IIs features both Phase Detect Autofocus as well as Contrast Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot snappier & precise as compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera features Face detection making it useful for people photography.

The Sensor features 11 focus points to choose from. It also features Tracking Autofocus for moving objects. Pentax K-5 IIs includes manual focus when needed in low light occasions or you want to have more accurate control on focus.

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Pentax K-5 IIs Battery life

The battery life (D-LI90) on the Pentax K-5 IIs is built to last for 980 shutters as per the CIPA specifications which is about the same as it's rivals. The average Advanced DSLR camera battery life is 909. Nikon D780 offers the best (2260) battery life in this range of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Advanced DSLR cameras that come with the highest battery life:

Pentax K-5 IIs for specific kinds of photography

The following illustration gives a rundown of the Pentax K-5 IIs for specific kinds of photography. To understand more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography factors

The Pentax K-5 IIs receives a score of 74 which is nice, meaning that it is a fine choice for portraits. Taking portraits favors heavily to sensor dimensions, support for RAW files along with the capability to utilize off-camera flash.

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focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files

Street photography with Pentax K-5 IIs

Getting a above average points total of 67, the Pentax K-5 IIs is a good option to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera offers a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
screen is fixed

Sports photography with Pentax K-5 IIs

A brilliant sports photography score of 79 indicates the Pentax K-5 IIs is a tremendous choice for shooting sports. A camera should have great focusing plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF

Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography information

Portability is really critical in selecting a camera for travel. Over-all, the Pentax K-5 IIs gets a above average 65 for a travel camera which makes it a respectable option to take on your travels.

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environment sealing
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly display

Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography features

For those who are looking to choose a digital camera for landscape photography, the most critical factor is going to be image quality. The Pentax K-5 IIs and it's awesome score of 79 as a landscape camera is a terrific choice compared to it's competitors.

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you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
delivers RAW files
environment proof

Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging features

A camera for vlogging really should offer a moving screen, microphone input and if possible image stabilization. Considering all the details, the Pentax K-5 IIs is just not appropriate as a vlog camera as it gets a dreadful rating of 33.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly

Pentax K-5 IIs Alternatives

If you are searching for replacements to the K-5 IIs, below is a collection of the highest placed cameras that fall in to the category of Advanced DSLR.

The chart listed below gives you a bird's eye view of the K-5 IIs versus it's top scoring competitors suggested previously.

These are various other cameras you may regard as alternatives. To look at a comprehensive comparison, click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Pentax
Model
Pentax K-5 IIs
Type
Advanced DSLR
Revealed
2013-06-04
Body design
Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor Chip
Prime II
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor dimensions
23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area
372.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Max resolution
4928 x 3264
RAW support
Max native ISO
12800
Max enhanced ISO
51200
Minimum native ISO
100
Minimum enhanced ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points
11
Cross focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount
Pentax KAF2
Total lenses
151
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3 inches
Resolution of screen
921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology
TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.61x
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
82
DXO Color Depth score
23.9
DXO Dynamic range score
14.1
DXO Low light score
1208
Features
Minimum shutter speed
30s
Fastest shutter speed
1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed
7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync
1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
760g (1.68 lbs)
Dimensions
131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
Other
Battery life
980 pictures
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
D-LI90
Self timer
Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
Single
Launch pricing
$749