Pentax K5 - Final Word. Rowing back a little? With some more of my favourite images captured so far.

[@xmeda]

K5 was my workhorse for 10 years until replaced in that role by K3. It produced over 130 000 photos for me and still works, now as backup body. It did huge amount of travelling photos, many event shootings, even some photojournalist part time job (all those other photographers around with canons and nikons always curious) and even several weddings and similar stuff. Robust, reliable. Only issues were with lens release button (serviced 2x in warranty) and later those rubber covers on side disintegrated. It survived various rainpours, snow or freezing temperatures. There is slight issue with flash photography as the camera tend to overexposure even if you set it in Manual and leave only flash in PTTL auto mode. Then you usually need to dial cca -1EV on flash to prevent overexposures. And of course if you try to use external flash with any auto mode like P/Sv/Av/Tv/TAv, it will blow the exposure, because camera will try to use highest available sensitivity and then blast flash into it. K3 is much better concerning this issue. AF on K5 is very good once you do AF adjustments for lenses and learn to use the camera properly. It was huge step up from my previous K20D and even significant improvement over K7. I had almost no waste (misfocused images) after some practice. With one exeption - fast lenses (F1.4-F2.8) in low light using artificial light like lightbulbs. Then it might be a bit problematic or inconsistent for phase detect, but it usually does the job well in such scenario using live-view. Especially with lenses like Sig 17-50/2.8, Sig18-35/1.8, Sig35/1.4, Sig 70-200/2.8, DA*16-50/2.8, FA*24/2, FA35/2, FA50/1.4, DA*50-135/2.8, DA70/2.4, DFA100/2.8 On good light there is no problem to even shoot flying sparrows with Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSMII or I have tons of perfectly focused photos of various airplanes or animals using Sigma 100-300/4 for example. But yes, K5II, K5IIs and K3 introduced later have significantly better low light phase detect AF than original K5.

[@stevieb7121]

Yeah, I think there's absolutely no doubt about the robustness and longevity of the K5. It feels solid in the hand. One of my biggest frustrations was trying to accurately focus manual lenses. Without using the LV magnification, I think I would always have struggled with that. Thanks for watching and for you comprehensive comment. Interesting to get the detail on other people's experiences.

[@camerarover7124]

Excellent résumé Stevie. I’m looking forward to what’s next 😊

[@stevieb7121]

It may take a while to figure out what's next, but there's always something in the pipeline! Thanks for watching.

[@drhoodster]

Glad that you released a follow up video. When you can afford and have interest in experiencing another camera, perhaps the experience you had with the K5 would not put you off to consider experiencing a more modern Pentax dslr (currently K1/K1 mII or K3mIII) because these would be more comparable in technology and capability to what you already use. Otherwise, keep on your photography journey.

[@stevieb7121]

Yeah, I have to say that I may have been critical but I still really enjoyed the Pentax experience. I'll be keeping some of the Pentax lenses (and am currently looking at some comparative work between Pentax-M and other brand's glass) so a return is on the cards for the future. Thanks for watching!

[@actionimagesphotography]

I sold Cameras in the early 90's and hated Pentax (except for the LX) and all the 80's lenses. It wasn't until I tried the K5 and got into the manual focus lenses of the 70's did I really enjoy Pentax again. Glad you gave it a try.

[@stevieb7121]

In many respects it was a revelation how well the K5 has stood the test of time. I'll miss it. Thanks for watching!

[@shakenharem1755]

I bet you buy another one. I've bought and sold I don't know how many K5s in my quest for the grail camera, but I keep on going back to it.

[@stevieb7121]

Oh no, please don't say that! I think many of us have been guilty of re-buying over the years.... I know I have. Thanks for watching.

[@xmeda]

Get K3 instead, upload latest firmware and you won't sell it. Yes the old K3 mk1.. Or at least K5IIs, which has fixed low light AF and no AA filter. But K5 is great for daylight shooting or as backup body. Cheap now, yet durable and reliable.

[@stevieb7121]

@@xmeda Yeah, I have some Pentax lenses now so I'll probably look again in a while... Thanks for watching!