My K5 Experience

[terrytootall]

Hi all

Yesterday and for the day, I borrowed a new K5 body and also a SIGMA 50-500-mm (mounted on a Canon EOS). It was unfortunate the SIGMA 5-500mm was not available with a Pentax mount - I guess beggars cannot be choosers. I took my K20 with a few choice lenses, including my TAMRON 500-mm mirror lens, tripods, laptop, etc., and drove around the greater Vancouver area looking for choice spots to test each camera's capability and lens comparisons.

In one location, I found myself in Cypress Bowl in West Vancouver looking for a spot to test the K5 with my 500-mm lens. I set up my tripods and aimed the cameras over to UBC and Point Grey. First off, I used my 500-mm (f8) on my K20 to compare focusing at maximum distance, the results was that several images came out blurry - most likely a short DoF - very difficult to focus old film lenses (do I need a KatzEye?). I did the same test on the K5 with the same lens and settings, and the pictures came out quite clear - probably the larger K5 sensor and the newer SAFOX IX. I compared each picture to the Canon with the SIGMA 50-500 and found the K5 did a superb job with my TAMRON 500mm. I am impressed!

When I bought my K20, I was impressed and in awe of the K20 features (from my older ist-DL).  However, the k5 features are much more impressive. I liked many new K5 aspects: the lightweight and feel in my hand, the large hi-res LCD, the large details on the LCD, the ISO button,  tabbed menu functions, landscape & portrait display configurations, etc., etc., etc. Far too many features to list. I'll miss the Fn button, but the dual functions of the 4-way controller buttons makes function changes easier.

The one item I didn't like was there is no shake button - this has been moved to a menu selection. I like the shake switch on the K20 and is easy to see the setting when using a tripod. I think the shake menu selection could be difficult to remember to shut off when using a tripod. Too bad that Pentax engineers didn't have some form of sensor in the threaded tripod fitting to sense a tripod, and turn off the shake function. Oh well, maybe another future camera feature ...

Attached are some of my shots. Point Grey and UBC with all 3 cameras. The Canon EOS with the 50-500mm, the K5 & K20 with the TAMRON 500mm. The clarity of the older film TAMRON lens on the K5 is superb. I plan on framing some of these k5 pictures.

Long and short: a K5 will be in my near future. The SIGMA 50-500mm is a maybe.

TTT

[blackcloudbrew]

TTT - It takes a few weeks of shooting to get familiar with the K5 layout, but after you do, the K20 feels odd.

[Ron Kruger]

TTT: If you have time to set a camera on a tripod, also use the delay (self-timer) or a remote. Both these automatically disable SR. That way you never have to remember to turn it off, or back on. You get sharper pictures as well, because both the delay and the remote also enable mirror-up function.

[terrytootall]

Thanks guys

I would have preferred to have the K5 for several days, but the offer was for 1 day. I put the day to good use to get to know the K5 - lots more to learn!

Thanks for the SR reminders. I used the 2-second delay yesterday, but I don't always use the delay or remote. I generally don't use these when using a tripod.

Terry