tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post2619080035335781201..comments2024-03-26T10:38:58.586-07:00Comments on PHOTOGRAPHIC CENTRAL: PENTAX K5II Review: If You Had To Pick One...Carl Garrardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01561256121516104816noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-55272561253372490032023-10-09T05:01:11.804-07:002023-10-09T05:01:11.804-07:00I have been going on a similar journey. Too many c...I have been going on a similar journey. Too many cameras (and lenses!) and am slowly rationalising my kit. I am keeping my K1 ii as it is awesome for what I got it for - landscape and still life and I especially enjoy using it with vintage K mount MF glass. Although due to its size and heft it's no everyday walk about camera, it does get used in that role occasionally. For light weight and take anywhere I have settled on the Fujifilm X-T10 with either TTartisans 27mm or Fuji's XC 35mm f2. For playing about with manual focus glass I find the X-T1 to be my weapon of choice. However, although I really like the Fujifilm cameras especially for B&W, to my eyes at least, Pentax colours look so much better and require less post processing so to that end I want a reasonably small walk about design to use with a couple of MF lenses - K 30mm f2.8 and K 50mm Macro. To that end I have tracked down a K5 with battery grip with just under 1400 shots for the princely sum of £200. I will be sad to see my KP go and even more so my beloved K3, but they were purchased in a different time when FF Pentax was unavailable to me and nowadays neither gets to see much use. I will not miss the extra resolution of the KP and K3. I know that 16mp even with an AA filter is more than enough resolution for the maximum size prints I am likely to want (I have 20"X16" prints from my Q on my wall and they look fine at normal viewing distances). I had considered a K30 (an especially handsome camera in black IMO) with a replacement solenoid, but they were considerably more expensive than a K5Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-26262695548107976702023-10-01T15:35:34.124-07:002023-10-01T15:35:34.124-07:00I very much enjoyed reading your article!
When I w...I very much enjoyed reading your article!<br />When I wanted to go digital 10 years ago, I knew nothing by that I loved my K1000 and had little money. I happened to find a K5iis second hand at my local camera store, and it seemed a no brainer because I could use my lenses.<br />When my kids came along, I bought a mirrorless to be easier at odd angles and as my wife was used to shooting with an LCD similar to her phone (this worked and she is now a professional photographer). But the K5 was relegated to the shelf and I never thought much about other models, just assumed they were dinosaurs (if beautiful dinosaurs).<br /><br />But then recently I was encouraged to pick it up again, and fell in love! I just love the process, the IQ is better than my modern mirrorless, and the black and white jpegs bring my heart so much joy that doesn't make me want to pixel peep or waste my life in light room.<br />... and then I started wondering whether a K3iii or K1ii would be better. What about FA/DA lenses. This isn't my work camera, and doesn't earn it's keep, so I had no justification to buy one but I kind of felt bad about my old, slow K5iis...<br />... and then I hear murmurs of it being peoples favourite Pentax DSLR!!! but why? I don't understand. Then comes your story.<br />My favourite element is that you're not saying its the best workhorse camera for a professional photographer, but that as a every day camera to enjoy, it's impeccable.<br />(This busted my thoughts of buying a K1, as APSC is more than fine!)<br /><br />Any way, I am very thankful to have bought this camera, and even more thankful that people like yourself have shared your stories that bust these myths many of us have bought about newer, faster, bigger, being better.exAequoranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-12489080918660477702023-08-28T22:48:51.517-07:002023-08-28T22:48:51.517-07:00Overall, the Pentax K-5 II is a great camera for s...Overall, the Pentax K-5 II is a great camera for serious photographers who need a reliable and capable DSLR. It is not the cheapest camera on the market, but it offers excellent value for money.Tarhib IThttps://www.tarhibit.com/image-retouching-services/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-35359191019502279882023-04-20T14:39:28.077-07:002023-04-20T14:39:28.077-07:00$396.0! Wow, I would be happy to buy used K5II for... $396.0! Wow, I would be happy to buy used K5II for 300€ in a good shape in my country or in all europe. You got really lucky. And thank you very much for this blog article, I am in choosing what to do with my K50, waiting for solenoid to die one day, I would like to upgrade to better camera, better low light AF, better controls without getting into menus, LCD on top which I miss from my times with canons. K5II seems to be apropriate replacement, K3 would be better but I cannot find those features in K3 to pay more. Also, AF button on the back is better placed on K5II and it's predecesors. So K5II it will be, just like you.Stefannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-29089175970916045792022-12-05T04:23:20.181-08:002022-12-05T04:23:20.181-08:00I have reneged on my decision to keep just one Pen...I have reneged on my decision to keep just one Pentax DSLR. What can I say. Pretty much negates this entire article, really. My emotions got the better of me, and I decided that I should keep a couple other Pentax DSLR's around after all. Hopefully the article still has some redeeming qualities, but I felt it was more important to be honest with readers here. Pentax/Ricoh is holding themselves to their word of being the last to produce DSLR's and that has to count for something. In addition, prices are starting to come down a bit on the K-3 III, and I was able to procure a Jet Black Limited edition K-3 III. Ricoh tempted me too much with that, a really neat cooperation between customers and the brand to come up with something so unique. I'll be finishing part's 4 and 5 of the review soon as a result. Please accept my apology for changing my mind.Carl Garrardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09464503660594709961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-71691467030953213812022-12-04T19:41:25.853-08:002022-12-04T19:41:25.853-08:00I did a review of the K70 here, just do a search h...I did a review of the K70 here, just do a search here it will come up for you. IMHO the K70 is one of the best Pentax DSLR's for the money- and still is. The KP's handling didn't take with me, nothing wrong with it, just felt it was a bit quirky handling wise in that other bodies had better grips that balanced better with more lenses, as well I found there to be just too many external controls. I know that sounds silly coming from a guy who loves analog controls, but that was my impression of it. All three grips for the KP didn't feel right in my hand. Otherwise it's typical awesome Pentax build, feature set, image quality, etc. Carl Garrardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09464503660594709961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-29981865368909980572022-12-03T07:16:06.995-08:002022-12-03T07:16:06.995-08:00"That leaves just three serious contenders th..."That leaves just three serious contenders that were newer than the K5II, the K3/II, KP and Pentax's dark horse the K70. I immediately ruled out the KP, as I never took to its handling/controls/layout, but it remains one of Pentax's most handsome DSLR's they have ever designed."<br /><br />I'd love to know more of your thoughts about the KP and the K70. This was exactly the sort of article I needed. I have a K10D I'm thinking it's finally time to upgrade from, and considering how long I've had it, I'm more of a once a decade kind of purchaser, lol, so making the right choice long term is important. pistachoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11735440942555955002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-63439794019775876722022-11-24T08:06:12.845-08:002022-11-24T08:06:12.845-08:00We'll I'm gonna eat a bit of crow on my ar...We'll I'm gonna eat a bit of crow on my article here, I went and got another Pentax afterall. It's been six months since I wrote this article and I still stand by all of my words above, if one was to pick only a single Pentax DSLR, the K5 II would still be my choice. However, when I saw that the K-3 Mark III Jet Black Edition was actually available in the U.S. at BH, with no tax or shipping fees, I just couldn't resist. I sold/traded off some other equipment to get it. So I got it and the 60-250mm f/4 as a matching pair for action photography and I'm going to ditch the Nikon D500 (for now). As I stated in my autofocus segment of the review of the K3 Mark III, those two cameras are neck and neck in terms of performance for action work. Parts IV and V shall commence hereon. Stay tuned. Carl Garrardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09464503660594709961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-28693004582521840842022-06-12T20:16:47.543-07:002022-06-12T20:16:47.543-07:00Greetings from not-quite-Portland, Carl!
Loved the...Greetings from not-quite-Portland, Carl!<br />Loved the bonus features (EV-3 AF, gap-free screen) of the 5ii series. In the end, after finding the budget could not do FF, I grabbed a fine deal on the Ks2. Turns out it has a sick solenoid - that was a cheap fix though, by using only lenses with aperture rings. The F17-28, several excellent A/M primes + the (KAF4) 55-300 and are all doing swell. While not the top-quality K3/5 build, the feature set is really good and my rare video takes less clumsy with modern bitrates & compression.<br /><br />I've picked up a white solenoid for the Operation - but until I tire of the fun of dialing in my aperture, that procedure is postponed until further notice!JimR 'Longviewer'https://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-36966460598545075722022-05-28T18:08:18.205-07:002022-05-28T18:08:18.205-07:00Hi Doug, great to hear you like the K5II so much, ...Hi Doug, great to hear you like the K5II so much, and I agree with you. Enjoying the photography is what it's all about. I think the charms of the K5II are its overall capability with its size, build, and pleasure of use. Although the K3 and K3 Mark III are both really excellent, its the K5II that really hits that sweet spot for the money. If Pentax had a more robust lens lineup for sports photog's- I may be singing a different tune but the K5II would at least get 2nd place :)Carl Garrardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01561256121516104816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938824791812834583.post-26740984259046902322022-05-27T18:34:18.404-07:002022-05-27T18:34:18.404-07:00I have to say I'm kinda surprised that out of ...I have to say I'm kinda surprised that out of all the Pentax DSLR's out there you chose the good ol' K5II as the one to keep. I started way back in the day with the K10D, my first DSLR. I really liked it but for me it's biggest negative was it's poor performance in low light. I saw no real change in this situation with the next cameras that came after it until the K5II. I jumped all over it and have been happy with it ever since. I thought about getting a K3 or the K3II but for my use there was no real need. The added features were just not enough to make a difference in my photography. I am not a professional, I just love taking photos and take photos of friends, family, and events. Mostly I like landscapes and nature. The K5II is just perfect for me. I like the feel of it, the controls and the nice deep grip. I added the battery grip as well for portraits and other vertical shots. It adds some serious weight but nothing I can't handle. I would like to try one of those star lenses on it some day, but they're too rich for my blood! I'll just stick with what I have and enjoy my photography.Doug B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11370284241157170769noreply@blogger.com