Fun With the Pentax K-5

It was Thursday, I had caught up with all of my writing work, the sun was shining brightly, and I had a brand new Pentax K-5 ready for testing. It was time to catch a train into Center City Philadelphia (the urban center) and take some street photos. I packed the K-5 along with three DA lenses: the 21mm f/3.2, 35mm f/2.8 Macro, and 70mm f/2.4, into a small shoulder bag. By 9:00 a.m. I was in the city and taking pictures in the morning light.

I was already familiar with the K-5 by virtue of owning its predecessor, the K-7. The two are identical in size, control layout and operation. The main difference is that the K-5 has an upgraded sensor, AF module, and storage buffer. As a result, the K-5 performs a lot better in low light and when shooting action sequences with continuous focus.

I did neither. I was outdoors in direct sunlight, shooting high-contrast scenes with deep shadows. As it turns out, the K-5 has yet another advantage over the K-7: dynamic range--enough that I could rescue highlights that were as much as one stop overexposed. I could also pull detail out of shadows that were as much as three stops underexposed. (I was shooting raw, of course. This wouldn't work with JPEGs.)

A lot depended on my ISO setting. The lower the setting, the more room I had to play with and the less shadow noise I would have to deal with. Fortunately, the K-5 did a fine job of exposing scenes, even high-contrast ones. I seldom had to worry about blown out highlights, especially since I moved the exposure compensation at least 2/3-stop to the left (less exposure) when metering scenes dominated by large, dark shadow areas.

Adjusting exposure on the fly was easy with the K-5 because the controls are so well-placed, at least to my way of thinking. The exposure compensation and ISO buttons are just behind the shutter button, where they're very easy to reach and distinguish by touch. Exposure compensation is the left, ISO to the right. An AE-Lock button, if you like that sort of thing, falls just under the right thumb. In fact, practically all of the most often used controls are clustered on the right rear side of the camera. Although this can make the control area feel cramped at times it also means you can get a lot done with just your right thumb.

Focusing was remarkably fast and accurate; that is, as long as you remember that unlike many AF systems, the K-5 will place its focus priority on whatever is in the center of the frame rather than whatever object is closest to the camera. It's not that it won't ever use any of the focus points at the edges and corners, it will; just not often enough that you can take it for granted. If you switch to manual focus point selection, however, you can move the AF point anywhere you like.

My preferred method of shooting was aperture-preferred, auto ISO with a maximum of 400, center focusing point, center-weighted metering, and vibration reduction off. Even when I was shooting in shadow the shutter speed was fast enough that I didn't need VR and since VR takes a second or two before each shot to kick in anyway, shooting without it gave me one less thing to worry about.

What I loved most about my morning of shooting with the K-5 was using such a rugged, pro-quality camera in a compact and comfortable package. I felt as if I could do everything I wanted or needed to do without having to carry ten pounds of equipment on my shoulder. (The total, including shoulder bag, was closer to four.) Of the three lenses I carried, the 70mm f/2.4 was a particular: ridiculously small and lightweight, "stoopid sharp," low flare and distortion, and beautiful bokeh.

This shot was two stops underexposed but because I was shooting raw I could move the Adobe Lightroom exposure slider to the right until I got what you see here.

So far I've found only two minor traits I find irksome. The first is that the K-5 will occasionally go into a meditative state where the top panel display is on but won't respond to my turning the rear control dial, which I have set up as my aperture control. I have to resort to tapping the shutter button a few times or even turning the camera off and back on to get it to respond. This is a drag when I'm trying to get off a split-second shot. A second disappointment is although the shutter release is quiet and as smooth as butter, the longish mirror blackout time makes the camera feel a bit pokey to me.

All was forgiven when I got home and started sorting through the shoot. I've displayed some of my favorites here as examples. All have been adjusted to some extent in Adobe Lightroom. In some cases the changes were as minor as white balance, contrast adjustment and sharpening. In others I converted from color to B&W and used a combination of curves and color contrast to place the tones where I wanted them.

The point isn't that I felt obliged to make adjustments but rather that I could do them so effortlessly without the images falling apart. Anyone who's ever tried to massage digital files from as recently as four years ago will know what I mean. It's one thing to do this with files from a 35mm full-frame DSLR that costs $6,000 and weighs 2.6 pounds, body only. It's quite another to do it with a camera that weighs almost 50% less and sells for around $1400.

I have a feeling this won't be the last time I venture out with the Pentax K-5. Next time I'll make a point of shooting in low light and with flash, just to see how well it can hang with the big boys in that area. As always, I'll keep you posted.

Comments

[Syed]

Great review of a great camera. I've never owned a Pentax, but the particular sensor in this one has the gearheads salivating over its commanding position in DXO Mark's sensor ranking (above the D3!). I think the major appeal to me is the compact, weather sealed body, and excellent prime lenses. Certainly a camera I would seriously consider if I were to "upgrade" from my D700.

[Rob]

Gordon,

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts WRT the K-5 vs. the D7000. The K-5 looks to be smaller, though if I'm reading the specs right, they weigh about the same. Anything stand out to you on one or the other?

[Lesley Thomas]

Gordon,
The second shot is great! I love the way that the curve of the back of the old man echoes the curve on the back of the figure in the bas relief, and the way that the leg position of one echoes the leg position of the other. The perfect timing says something about both the photographer and the camera he is using.

[Chris]

I would be interested to know your thoughts vs. the k-7. Since they are the same in handling respects, layout, etc. ...how would you compare the files shot in bright light with lower ISO speeds? Is there much difference at ISO 100 or 200?

[Gordon Lewis]

Chris,

The K-5 has slightly higher pixel sharpness than the K-7 at low ISOs, but for all practical purposes you'd never see the difference unless you were making prints above 16x20-inches. Even then you'd have be standing a lot closer than the normal viewing distance for any difference to be noticeable.

The real difference is in dynamic range. With the K-7 you're going to have to give up some highlight or shadow detail in high contrast situations. As long as you're careful not to seriously over- or under-expose, the K-7's DR not really a problem at low ISOs, but once you get past ISO 400 the K-5 pulls ahead quickly and stays there.

[Gordon Lewis]

>>I'd be interested to hear your thoughts WRT the K-5 vs. the D7000.<<

Rob,

This will be the topic of a future post. For now, I can confirm that the K-5 is 8mm shorter than the D7000. The other dimensions and weight are pretty much the same. I like the overall feel and responsiveness of the D7000 more than that of the K-5. I like the K-5's control layout a lot more than that of the D7000. More to come.

[Bruce]

The K5 and DA primes seem to be the ideal compromise as far as price, performance and portability are concerned. You've got a great eye for street photography, by the way.

[Tom Stermitz]

I traded up from the D90 to the K-5 rather than the D7000. My original reasons were weather resistance and small size. In usage, I discovered that I loved the handling and button placement, as you say, all near the thumb on the K-5. For me, the important thing is single mode buttons rather than menu layers.

Actually, instead of A-mode, I usually use P mode, because the moment you hit the Aperture dial you automatically go to A-mode, and the moment you hit the Shutter dial you automatically go to Tv-mode.

Pentax also gives us the TAv mode which floats ISO as you set either or both of aperture and shutter; in other words, ISO becomes the independent variable, a long way from film SLR usage where ISO was the first dependent variable.

Then there is the "green button". This makes manual mode extremely useful: hitting the green button meters the scene, using the camera's suggested optimum settings. It works the same in aperture or shutter priority.

The green button is the secret for using old, Pentax manual lenses. Hitting green button produces a little zip as the lens aperture contracts to the ring setting, allowing the camera to set shutter speed. There is something tactile and pleasurable about this audible-mechanical experience, like I am controlling the camera not letting it run away on its own.

Shortcomings? Pentax gives us good choice of high-quality, nice-feeling prime lenses, and reasonably-priced crop-sensor zooms. Missing are specialty lenses like super-teles for bird photographers. Also, although there are tons of high-quality manual lenses on ebay or KEH, the used market is very thin for higher-end Pentax glass from the last 10 years.

[JMR]

I like your street shots. You have a keen eye, or should I say well developed eye;)

I had my heart set on the K5. It would be a tremendous upgrade from the K10 (2007). So you see I don't often upgrade, but all the features, plus the higher DR and 100 percent viewfinder, is more than I can resist. One issue holding me back is that I have read the K5 can produce slightly blurry images if shot under 1/60 of sec, due to vibration from the mirror. Have you heard about this?

[Gordon Lewis]

JMR,

Thanks for the compliments on my street shots. As for K-5 image blur caused by "mirror vibration," I've heard about it but haven't experienced it. What I have noticed is a subtle softening of the image at shutter speeds around 1/100 second when I have VR turned on. VR activation is not instantaneous in the K-5 and because you can't see the effect in the viewfinder it's easy to forget to wait a second or two for it to kick in. Mind you, I haven't done any scientific tests of this and even if I did, it would be on only one body, so don't read too much into it. My sense of it is that this problem, if it exists, is overstated.

[Grant]

I see that Alfred Hitchcock is alive and well, and riding the bus in Philadelphia.
As usual, excellent work Gordon.

[GeorgeP]

Great review - Philly has some great scenes. Do you ever get north to Washington Crossing? One day I hope to be able to persuade my wife that I really need to upgrade from a K10D. Though I'm not sure I'll take better pictures. :-)

[Geof Margo]

I enjoyed your Philly street shots as always; my town too so it is fun to see your vision of familiar places.
I am interested to hear more about the K5 AF function; it is one area that has brought criticism both for poor low light Af function and for too frequent AF failures generally. I have a hard time getting perspective on what I read on the net. I appreciate hearing comments from an experienced user who has had his hands on the camera! Thanks.

[Gordon Lewis]

Geof,

I plan to give the K-5 a rigorous testing in low light conditions within the next week or so (Reading Terminal Market springs to mind). In the meantime I can say that I haven't had any low light focusing problems so far.

[Michael Bernstein]

Your comments about $6k canera IQ at $1.4k and half the weight really has me intrigued. I've been struggling on and off with the weight of my full-frame kit, and this is just one more nudge in the direction of ditching it in favor of something smaller and lighter. That Sony sensor must really be something!

[Dick LeBleu]

"So far I've found only two minor traits I find irksome. The first is that the K-5 will occasionally go into a meditative state where the top panel display is on but won't respond to my turning the rear control dial, which I have set up as my aperture control."

Have not made the move to a k5 yet... Still using a k20d. I too was frustrated about the sluggish aperture dial... Then I noticed that I was trying to make adjustments while the review image (set to 1 sec) was displayed on the LCD! Turn off review and the rear dial responds instantly. Don't know if the k5 behaves the same way...

Dick

[RM]

The K5 has been thoroughly checked by the Pentax user community -- No shutter blur as the K7 and Kx had.

Low light autofocus problems are a different story.

[Rob]

I'm a D7000 user and I have to say, I never thought I'd feel camera envy after buying a D7K, but man. The D7000 is a great camera, but as some reviews have pointed out, it's very prone to blown highlights. I love the camera but hate the meter. If you get the chance to shoot on a sunny day with a D7000, I'd be very curious to read your thoughts.