Pentax K-5 II

Last updated
Pentax K-5 II
K5 GPS GRIP DSC03814 smial wp.jpg
K-5 II with optional GPS unit and battery grip
Overview
Type Digital single-lens reflex camera
Lens
Lens Interchangeable Pentax KAF3 and KAF2 mount compatible with Pentax auto-aperture lenses; older lenses supported in stop-down metering mode
Sensor/medium
Sensor APS-C 23.7×15.7 mm CMOS sensor
Maximum resolution 16.3 megapixels (4928×3264)
Film speed ISO 100–12,800 in 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps; expandable to ISO 80–51,200
Recording medium SD, SDHC, SDXC [1] and, according to one source, microSD [2]
Exposure/metering
Exposure modesGreen (fully automatic), program, aperture priority, shutter priority, sensitivity priority, aperture and shutter priority, manual, bulb, X-sync shutter speed, five User presets.
Exposure metering TTL open-aperture metering, 77 segments
Metering modes Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Flash
Flash Onboard pop-up flash; hot shoe for P-TTL flash units with high-speed sync support; PC socket for studio flashes; 1/180 s X-sync speed
Shutter
Shutter speed range30–1/8000 s, Bulb
Continuous shooting Up to 7 fps
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Eye-level pentaprism, near-100% coverage, 0.92× magnification
Image processing
Image processor Prime II
General
LCD screen3″, 921,000 dots (640×480 RGB pixels)
BatteryD-LI90 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
Optional battery packs D-BG4 battery grip accepts additional D-LI90 battery or 6 AA batteries
Weight With battery: 760 g (1.68 lb)

The Pentax K-5 II is a 16.3-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, successor to the Pentax K-5, sharing its body shape with its two predecessors including the Pentax K-7, and making incremental improvements on the K-5.

Contents

Both models have improved autofocus ability, particularly in low and tungsten light, down to −3EV, which at the time of release makes it the best low-light autofocus camera. [3] Also improved is the sensitivity of the central AF area which now has an AF base of f/2.8 instead of the common f/5.6. [4] This increased AF base length helps to improve focus accuracy, in particular with fast (wide aperture) lenses and in low light. [5]

The Pentax K-5 II/IIs each have HD video capabilities, with resolutions of 1920×1080 (at 25 fps), 1280×720 (at 25 & 30 fps), 640×480 (at 25 & 30 fps).

Externally, the cameras are distinguished by a recessed screen, where the K-5 had a flush-mounted one. [6] The K-5II/IIs has a gapless design—the typical air gap is avoided by the use of a special resin—helps to reduce internal reflections and gives better visibility in bright light. [7] The material of the screen has been changed from plastic to tempered glass, which is scratch resistant. [8] [9] Like its predecessor, the K-5 II/IIs is fully weather-sealed. [7]

It has the highest camera sensor rating of any Pentax APS-C camera, according to DxO Labs, with a score of 82. [10]

Pentax K-5 IIs

The Pentax K-5 IIs is a version of the K-5 II which omits the traditional low pass filter for greater sharpness but potentially greater moiré.

Bundling

The K-5 II/IIs are available in two different kits, one including the DA 18–55 mm WR lens, and the other the DA 18–135 mm WR lens, as well as a body only. [7]

Related Research Articles

Autofocus Optical system to focus on an automatically or manually selected point or area

An autofocus optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus on an automatically or manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication. Autofocus methods are distinguished as active, passive or hybrid types.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital single-lens reflex camera</span> Digital cameras combining the parts of a single-lens reflex camera and a digital camera back

A digital single-lens reflex camera is a digital camera that combines the optics and the mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor.

Nikon D50 Digital single-lens reflex camera

The NikonD50 is a 6.1-megapixel entry-level digital single-lens reflex camera, sold from June 2005 until November 2006 by Nikon. It was Nikon's first DSLR aimed at the consumer market, and sold for US$899. It uses the Nikon F mount. The D50 is similar to the slightly older D70 using the same CCD sensor, with a slower maximum shutter speed and slightly smaller size; however, it continued to offer the internal focus motor of prior autofocus film and digital SLRs. Future entry-level Nikon DSLRs would eliminate the internal focus motor and require these motors to be in the lenses. Lack of a focus-motor in the camera eliminated the ability to autofocus with late film-era Nikkor AF and AF-D lenses, though these lenses work well on the D50.

APS-C Image sensor format

Advanced Photo System type-C (APS-C) is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System film negative in its C ("Classic") format, of 25.1×16.7 mm, an aspect ratio of 3:2 and Ø 31.15 mm field diameter. It is therefore also equivalent in size to the Super 35 motion picture film format, which has the dimensions of 24.89 mm × 18.66 mm and Ø 31.11 mm field diameter.

Full-frame DSLR Image sensor format

A full-frame DSLR is a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) with a 35 mm image sensor format. Historically, 35 mm was one of the standard film formats, alongside larger ones, such as medium format and large format. The full-frame DSLR is in contrast to full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, and DSLR and mirrorless cameras with smaller sensors, much smaller than a full 35 mm frame. Many digital cameras, both compact and SLR models, use a smaller-than-35 mm frame as it is easier and cheaper to manufacture imaging sensors at a smaller size. Historically, the earliest digital SLR models, such as the Nikon NASA F4 or Kodak DCS 100, also used a smaller sensor.

Pentax K10D

The Pentax K10D and similar Samsung GX-10 are 10.2-megapixel digital single-lens reflex cameras launched in late 2006. They were developed in a collaboration between Pentax of Japan and Samsung of South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikon D40</span> Digital single-lens camera by Nikon

The Nikon D40 is Nikon F-mount entry-level digital SLR, announced November 16, 2006 and made until March 2009, when it was succeeded by the Nikon D3000. Compared to its predecessor, the D50, the D40 had several features removed, a few added, and a lower price: US$499.95 ESP as of November 2009 with the 18–55 mm G-II kit lens, positioning it as an entry-level model compared to the D80. The D40x has a 10-megapixel maximum resolution, up from 6 megapixels of the D40 and D50.

Lenses for SLR and DSLR cameras

This article is about photographic lenses for single-lens reflex film cameras (SLRs) and digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs). Emphasis is on modern lenses for 35 mm film SLRs and for DSLRs with sensor sizes less than or equal to 35 mm ("full-frame").

Pentax K20D

The Pentax K20D and its clone, the Samsung GX-20, are 14.6 megapixel digital single-lens reflex cameras manufactured by Pentax that were announced on January 23, 2008. The K20D was available in the U.S. market from February 2008 through autumn 2009.

Nikon D700 Digital single-lens reflex camera

The Nikon D700 is a professional-grade full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by the Nikon Corporation in July 2008 and manufactured in Japan. It uses the same 12.1-megapixel "FX" CMOS image sensor as the Nikon D3, and is Nikon's second full-frame digital SLR camera.

This article discusses the cameras – mainly 35 mm SLRs – manufactured by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Corp. and its predecessors, Pentax Corporation and Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.. Pentax must not be confused with Pentax 6x7 or Pentax 67 which are 120 medium format 6x7cm film cameras.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentax (lens)</span>

Pentax lenses were first badged as Takumar. The Takumar branded lenses were well respected for their line of Super Takumar, which designated the high performance coating applied to the lens as well as the optical formulas used to make them. The majority of the industry at the time was still satisfied with the variations of the "plumb" coating process and later some of the two and three layer processes as well. Asahi Pentax soon introduced the Takumar Super-Multi-Coated line of lenses which was a 7 layer process as the industry had just caught up with similar forms of 5 layer multi-coated optics. Eventually Asahi Optical and Pentax slowly shifted much of their lens production under the Pentax name and transitioned some of the successful designs that were first introduced under the Takumar name to use Asahi/Pentax badging as well as beginning to use the "smc" abbreviation. Eventually the Asahi partnership disappeared and the Pentax name became solely used. Pentax lenses saw many feature changes to answer the market, such as: incorporating "Auto-Aperture" with the M42, the light weight and compactness with the 'M' series, Aperture Priority overrides with the 'A' series, and Auto-Focus with the 'F' series. Modern Pentax lenses for digital SLR cameras have seen the elimination of the aperture ring completely as found on Pentax DA and D-FA series lenses. They use the Pentax KAF mount. All of these lenses have an autofocus feature, either operated from the camera body or from an internal SDM motor. Pentax compatible lenses are also made by third-party companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canon EOS 500D</span>

The Canon EOS 500D is a 15-megapixel entry-level digital single-lens reflex camera, announced by Canon on 25 March 2009. It was released in May 2009. It is known as the EOS Kiss X3 in Japan, and as the EOS Rebel T1i in North America. It continues the Rebel line of mid-range DSLR cameras, is placed by Canon as the next model up from the EOS 450D, and has been superseded by the EOS 550D (T2i).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mirrorless camera</span> Compact camera with a user-removable and replaceable lens

A mirrorless camera is a photo camera featuring a single, removable lens and a digital display. The camera does not have a reflex mirror or optical viewfinder like a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, but may have an electronic viewfinder. Many mirrorless cameras retain a mechanical shutter. Like a DSLR, a mirrorless camera accepts any of a series of interchangeable lenses compatible with its lens mount.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentax K-5</span> Digital camera model

The Pentax K-5 is a 16.3-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, announced on September 20, 2010. It began shipping in mid-October 2010 and it was replaced by the Pentax K-5 II in the third quarter of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canon EOS-1D X</span> DSLR camera

The Canon EOS-1D X is a professional digital SLR camera body by Canon Inc. It succeeded the company's previous flagship Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. It was announced on 18 October 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentax K-01</span>

Pentax K-01 is a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera announced in February 2012. It uses the Pentax K mount.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentax K-30</span>

The Pentax K-30 is a 16.3-megapixel Pentax digital single-lens reflex camera, announced on 21 May 2012. At its introduction, it was in the middle of Pentax's DSLR range, above the now-discontinued entry-level K-r, and below the semi-pro K-5 and successor K-5 II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentax K-3</span>

The Pentax K-3 is a 24-megapixel Pentax high-end digital single-lens reflex camera with an APS-C sensor, announced on 7 October 2013. The Pentax K-3 is the successor to both the K-5 II and K-5 IIs models, which have a 16-megapixel sensor. The K-5 II had an optical low pass filter or anti-aliasing (AA) filter that can prevent the appearance of moire patterning on the captured image. This filter reduces the sharpness of the image, so Pentax also produced the K-5 IIs which omitted this filter. In the K-3, Pentax obviated the need for providing two separate models by including a selectable AA filter "simulator". This mechanism vibrates the sensor when switched on, slightly blurring the image in a way that replaces the function of the optical AA filter, providing the same benefit as the filter in the K-5 II and other cameras with an optical AA filter. When the AA simulator is disabled, the sensor records a sharper image, as in the K-5 IIs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikon D750</span> Digital single-lens reflex camera

The Nikon D750 is a full-frame DSLR camera announced by Nikon on September 12, 2014. It is the first in a new line of Nikon FX format cameras which includes technologies from the D810 in a smaller and lighter body. Nikon sees the D750 with "advanced video features" for videographers as well as a primary or secondary camera for fast handling and speed. The camera can shoot at 6.5 frames per second at full resolution.

References

  1. "Pentax K-5 II: Digital Photography Review". Dpreview.com. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  2. Steve Harvath (2012-09-10). "Pentax K-5 II". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  3. Angela Nicholson. "Pentax K-5 II and Pentax K-5 IIs: 10 things you need to know | News". TechRadar. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  4. Pentax. "The new flagship model of the PENTAX K digital SLR camera series, featuring newly developed state-of-the-art AF sensor that boasts broadest AF working EV range range in its class*". Pentax. Archived from the original on 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
  5. David Busch. "Mastering Digital SLR photography". Safari Books online. Archived from the original on 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
  6. "Pentax K-5 II Camera - First Shots". Imaging-resource.com. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  7. 1 2 3 "Pentax Ricoh announces Pentax K-5 II DSLR and K-5 IIs with no low-pass filter: Digital Photography Review". Dpreview.com. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  8. "Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs refresh company's DSLR camera range". Pocket-lint. 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  9. "Announcement of PENTAX K-5 II and K-5 IIs | Pentax Support". Support.pentaximaging.com. 2012-09-10. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  10. "Sensors Database - DxOMark".