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     Replacing the K-7 as the flagship of the Pentax DLSR line, the K-5 is a semi-professional 16.3 MP camera with very robust body and built-in image stabilizer. While the 14.5 megapixel K-7 remains available, the new model offers many benefits. These include higher resolution, more ISO options (to 51,200 with expansion), higher 1080p resolution in movie mode, new 11-point AF system, an improved HDR function, and a much faster 7 fps continuous drive speed. Perhaps the most significant benefit is the new CMOS sensor which provides superior quality at high ISO levels.

There are no Scene modes but plenty of advanced amenities such as Wireless TTL Flash support, automatic distortion and chromatic aberration control, copyright info entry, multiple exposure mode and electronic level detection gauge. When the camera is on a tripod two electronic features allow for precise positioning changes: Composition Adjustment and Horizon Correction. Note too that the K-5 can be used with manual focus lenses; some of the high-tech features are not available then but the most important functions do operate.

Design and Features

 This medium-size DSLR with built-in flash and an oversized handgrip features a stainless steel chassis and magnesium alloy covers. The body, the optional vertical grip, and DA* and WR series lenses are all weather-resistant. Although it's not articulated, the 3" LCD monitor provides an ultra-high 921,000 dot resolution display. The 170 degree viewing angle allows for composing in Live View even when the camera is held at a moderately high or low level.

The K-5 is equipped with 25 external controls -- including two input dials and a keypad -- and many menu items, including 39 custom functions. The engineers minimized the number of controls by providing an [Fn] button. This provides quick access to a dozen frequently-used functions, reducing the need for hunting through the multitude of items in the full menu. Frankly, menu navigation is slow due to the numerous items but they are intelligently grouped so the process becomes intuitive after about a week.    

It's possible to achieve virtually any desired effect with the nine picture styles, each with overrides for saturation, hue, high/low key, contrast and sharpness. Four dynamic range expansion options and seven digital filters for artistic effects are also available. Pentax has made HDR capture more convenient. This mode will fire three photos made at varying exposure levels and merge them into one with maximum highlight/shadow detail. Four intensity levels are available and the processor provides micro-alignment of the three photos, making a tripod unnecessary.

 Playback Mode Palette

In post-processing, the user can convert RAW photos to JPEG, modify technical aspects of a JPEG or add a special effect. In addition to basic items such as Rotate, Resize, Crop and RAW file conversion, it's easy to tweak aspects such as brightness, saturation, hue, contrast and sharpness.

Creative photographers will appreciate the 16 Digital Filters.  These include Monochrome effects, Watercolor effects (my favorite), Soft Focus, Extract Color (conversion to b&w but retaining one selected color) and Slim (for an apparent slimming effect). There's also a pseudo-HDR filter to maximize the detail in both highlight and shadow areas.

Any of the effects produced by a Digital Filter can be achieved in imaging software (perhaps with plug-ins), but that requires a great deal of technical expertise. By comparison, in-camera modification is simple and quick. The process is also intuitive because the effect of each Digital Filter -- at the selected intensity level -- is visible in the LCD display. While some of the filters produce gimmicky effects, others create some really cool results.

Live View and Movie Mode

Pressing the [LV] button activates a real-time preview of the scene. When shooting still photos, the user can select either of two autofocus technologies. With contrast detection AF there's no interruption of the live preview during autofocus but AF operation is not fast, with or without Face Detection or Face Recognition AF. Switch to Phase Detection AF and autofocus is a bit faster but reflex mirror flip-flopping interrupts the preview display.

When it's set to shoot video clips autofocus is disengaged; pre-focusing with AF and manual focus during shooting must be used. Pentax could have enabled AF in Movie mode but most users would find it frustratingly slow. No user-control is available durig actual video recording, but you can pre-set important features: the aperture to be used, exposure compensation, WB, a picture style with parameter adjustments, etc.  Some other DSLRs do provide autofocus and some user-control during actual recording but the K-5 should be fine for photographers who are not video enthusiasts.

Update: On Jan. 6, 2100 Pentax released new firmware (v 1.02) said to provide faster contrast-detection autofocus with the K-5. (It also allows for shooting more RAW captures in a single sequence.) http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/k-5_s.html

Video capture in Motion JPEG format is at full HD or 1920x1080 pixels. The in-camera stabilizer does work in Movie mode but should be switched off when the camera is mounted on a tripod. As with other DSLRs, the sound quality provided by the built-in mono mic is acceptable; an optional external stereo mic is a useful accessory. Thanks to the new sensor, even movies made indoors look great on a large HD TV screen. Avoid panning the camera at a fast speed and video clips made outdoors will be gorgeous.

Speed and Quality

This is the fastest DSLR that Pentax has ever made. The K-5 starts up in one second and responds instantly to a touch of the shutter release button. Its continuous drive mode is unusually fast at 7 fps and the camera can fire 22 large/fine JPEGs or 20 RAW photos in a burst (with Firmware 1.01 or later). If the maximum number of shots are fired, the camera takes ten seconds for processing. During this time, it will still take more photos if desired but at a slower framing rate. Shoot fewer photos in a sequence and the K-5 will usually be ready to fire another burst at full speed almost immediately.

The K-5 does not boast as many AF options as the D7000 for example but autofocus is fast in outdoor shooting. Use an ultrasonic SDM lens and tracking focus will be reliable with action subjects if they're not moving excessively fast or very erratically. Focus acquisition does slow in dark locations and the AF system occasionally makes an error; still, it's at least average in low light and better than the earlier K-7. Unless you often shoot pro sports in dark arenas you should be satisfied with overall autofocus performance.

When used in the default Bright picture style without overrides, the K-5 generates JPEGs with moderate color saturation but rich reds and low sharpness. (Entirely different effects are possible with other picture styles and overrides.) Most users will want to set in-camera Sharpness to +1 or plan to do extra sharpening later in a computer. Shadow detail is usually very good but on sunny days, light-toned areas are too bright to retain detail. That problem can be prevented by activating Highlight Protection, one of the dynamic range expansion functions.

For the absolutely best quality I used Premium JPEG capture mode at 16.3 megapixels for the first test shots.  My best ISO 100 to 200 photos are excellent, suitable for making exhibition-grade 15x22” prints. Even ISO 800 photos are sharp and finely detailed, suitable for very good 13x19" prints.

Thanks to the new sensor, high ISO quality is much better than with the K-7. Well-exposed ISO 1600 JPEGs made very good 8x10 glossies and ISO 3200 was suitable for equally nice 5x7" prints. At ISO 3200, Noise Reduction eliminates most of the mottled color speckles but produces little smudging of intricate detail. Sharpness remains high; some "graininess" is apparent and that is preferable to an artificially smooth effect.

The Bottom Line

This is definitely the most desirable Pentax DSLR to date in terms of speed, high ISO quality and versatility. Granted, the many advanced functions -- some unique -- do make certain aspects of operation complicated. Hence, this semi-pro camera would be most suitable for experienced digital photographers who are willing to study the owner's manual and experiment. The extra effort required to maximize the camera's potential will certainly pay dividends.

The K-5 is not inexpensive but its Specs and rugged construction combine to offer good value. While it's not the fastest DSLR in tracking high speed sports action, it is perfect for serious nature, landscape, travel and portrait photography with its many options for achieving exactly the desired effect. When comparison shopping at a retail store, be sure to try some of the new K-5 features. Take a few photos on your own memory card with a high-grade D* SDM lens and you'll probably agree that this is a strong contender in the prosumer DSLR category. 

Pros: One of the best re: high ISO quality; wide dynamic range re: shadow detail; metal, weather-resistant body with built-in Stabilizer; ultra-high resolution LCD; many features for technical control and creative effects; numerous image modification features in Playback mode; very fast 7fps framing rate

Cons: More expensive than some competitors; autofocus is not available during video recording; sometimes requires exposure compensation and/or Highlight Protection feature for optimal exposure; some complexity; not the most sophisticated flash metering system

Average Retail Price: $1500 in the US; $1600 in Canada. Shop around with Google.com for the best price, but deal only with well-known, reputable retailers.

Specifications: For additional information about the numerous functions visit the Pentax Web site at http://www.pentaximaging.com/slr/K-5/