Pentax Is the Pentax K-5 small enough to be a "Small DSLR Forum" camera?

[BBW]

Wonderful. I'm glad to hear it. I know at first things can be frustrating with new cameras. You're photographs are looking really good. You should be proud that you figured it all out and got things the way you want them to be. Thank goodness you realized that first lens was faulty, too!

 

[Amin]

Nice choice of lens. How did you make your lens decision?

Thanks! I wanted a short tele. Looked at tons and tons of lens samples plus all available reviews and lots of user reviews. In the end, it came down to FA 77, DA 70, Sigma 70 macro, Sigma 50/1.4. Didn't love the wide open rendering of the FA 77 (from all the samples), so the price was not worth it to me. Between the DA 70 and the two Sigmas, I mostly chose based on lens size and the fact that it is a Pentax lens.

 

[Amin]

Christina, I love the fruit and the cat portrait. You're getting me psyched to use my K-5!

 

[Armanius]

I have to decide before the end of the day tomorrow whether or not to return the K5. Love just about everything on the K5 -- except the size and weight! Why can't it be the same size and weight as the GH2? Aargh.

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[Herman]

Size and weight...matters a lot, to me anyway, I'm looking forward to the NC1 from Pentax, which apparently is very small, though I don't know it's real size.
Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

 

[Amin]

My K-5 is here . Traditional first shot with my wife sporting the "Another new camera?" pose:

Comparing the K-5 & 70/2.4 with GH and PL45 has been interesting. I don't like that the focus ring spins on the Pentax during autofocus or the grinding sound of the lens focusing, but the K-5 shutter release is a beautiful thing compared to the clack of the GH2. Unlike the PL45, the 70/2.4 extends during focusing. AF is dead on accurate with both camera-lens combos. Both cameras feel good to me in the hand. The build of the K-5 and lens seems nicer, more refined, but I prefer the lighter weight of the GH2.

The K-5 OVF seems dark and tunnel-like compared to the GH2 EVF, but obviously there are advantages to an OVF. The K-5 OVF is surprisingly good for manual focus. Overall, I greatly prefer the GH2 VF though.

Some size comparisons (not really a fair comparison since the PL45 does 1:1 macro):

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If I had to choose between them at this early juncture, it would be a no-brainer for me in favor of the GH2 (based on kit size, weight, preference for EVF, preference for available lenses, AF system, etc). I admit to bias as someone who runs a Micro 4/3 site. That said, I think the K-5 will be a keeper for me.

 

[Amin]

Here's another size comparison. This time I put the 14/2.5 on the GH2. I think the 70/2.4 is similar in size to the 21/3.2, which would be the closest match in the Pentax lineup for the Pana 14/2.5, so this is more of an apples to apples size comparison. Sorry for the poor quality images here:

The 14/2.5 is really tiny. As you can see, the filter and lens cap make up ~ 1/3 of the thickness.

 

[Djarum]

Amin,

Thanks for the comparison.

I played with an alpha 33 in the store the other day and it didn't seem much larger than a GH2 either. The accountant would kill me though if I decided to purchase one.

 

[christilou]

I also have a GH2 and K5 and I've been a little bit torn between the two cameras. The GH2 fits in my hand really nicely and but for the slightly uneven thumbwheel, most of the controls are really easy to access and use. I also give my vote to the evf of the GH2 and the ease of using the magnifying option for manual focusing. I do prefer the K5 for it's colour and dynamic range, it's lack of noise and it's quieter shutter. I think that my Ricoh GXR bests the GH2 though

 

[Armanius]

IMO, the GH2's EVF is definitely better than the K-5's OVF. And the K-5 OVF is actually considered pretty good!!

I hope we will see more high quality EVF (GH2, A33/55 and the Oly attachment one too).

 

[Djarum]

Armanius,

The great thing is that there are lots of choices out there and its almost hard to go wrong.

 

[BBW]

So Christina, do you think you'll keep the Pentax as part of your "stable"?

 

[Armanius]

After due consideration, I kept the K-5 in my "stable." Going with a whole different lens lineup though. So returned all the lenses I got, and order a FA35/2. Woohoo!!

 

[Amin]

A few shots from the playground today with K-5 and DA70@f/2.4:

 

[Armanius]

Amin, very nice depth of colors. Creamy bokeh too, except on the last photo. But that's to be expected with the all the braches so close to each other. Were these JPG's or RAW?

One cool thing about the K-5 (and maybe other cameras also have this feature) is allowing for change of profiles (natural, vivid, muted, etc...) on the photo after the photo is taken. Can also apply the filters after the photo is taken.

I am still a bit confused as to what makes it a "profile" vs. a "filter."

Maybe a slight front focus on the 2nd photo? The jacket seems to be more on focus than the face. Or is that back focus. Aargh. Just me being paranoid!

 

[Amin]

Thanks, Armando! I shoot almost exclusively RAW and haven't tried JPEG yet with this camera. I see what you mean about the second image, but I think that's due to my son's head movement. Every shot I've taken with a still subject, the focus has been dead on target.

 

[BBW]

First of all, your sons are so handsome and so grown up!! They both have changed dramatically - they're no longer little boys - well almost. Wonderful color in each one. Definitely a keeper for you, I'd say.

 

[Amin]

Thanks, BB .

 

[christilou]

Great pictures Amin and a lovely looking "young man"! I think I'll be looking for a 70'ish lens next. I think I'll keep the k5 too! The fact that we have so many cameras proves that there still is no one camera that fills our exacting criteria LOL!!!

 

[Amin]

Thanks, Christina!

For me, the GH2 fills my criteria, but I get bored with just one camera . I think the K-5 will make a great companion for the GH2.