Pentax K-5 Review

Overall Score

73

Main Features

  • 16 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • 80 - 12800 ISO
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
  • 7 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-In Wireless
  • 131 x 97 x 73 mm, 740g.
  • Price Category:
  • Replaced: K-7
  • Replaced by: K-5 II

I want (0) I have (0) I had (0)
Check Price

Pentax K-5 Overview


First introduced in December, 2010, Pentax K-5 is a 16 MP DSLR with a APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm) sized CMOS sensor. Pentax replaced the older Pentax K-7 with K-5. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:

Compare Pentax K-5 with Pentax K-7

Pentax replaced K-5 with Pentax K-5 II. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:

Compare Pentax K-5 with Pentax K-5 II


Pentax K-5 comes with a 23.6 x 15.7 mm CMOS sensor, which has a diagonal of 28.35 mm (1.11").

- Full Frame
- Pentax K-5

Sensor resolution of Pentax K-5 ~ 4898 x 3265 pixels.

Pentax K-5 has Crop Factor: 1.53

The sensor has a surface area of 370.5 mm².

There are approximate 15,991,970 photosites (pixels) on this area.

Pentax K-5 Series History
Model Year $ Sensor ISO Weight Dimensions
Pentax K-5 II Pentax K-5 II 2013 16MP 100 - 12800 760g 131 x 97 x 73mm
Pentax K-5 IIs Pentax K-5 IIs 2013 16MP 100 - 12800 760g 131 x 97 x 73mm
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5 2010 16MP 80 - 12800 740g 131 x 97 x 73mm

Proc and Cons of Pentax K-5


Get to know this camera closer. Let's look at the features and characteristics of this model. Compare Pentax K-5 with competitors in semi-pro dslr cameras.

Pros
Built-in Wireless
External Flash
AF Face Detection
12800 Max Native ISO
7.0 fps Continuous Shooting
Long Battery Life: 980 shots
Manual Exposure Mode
Environmental Sealing
11 Focus Points
±5 AE Bracketing Range
Focus Bracketing
Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
Optical Viewfinder
RAW Support
921k dots Screen Resolution
1/8000s Max Shutter Speed
Manual Focus
Microphone Port
Timelapse Recording
9 Cross Focus Points
Flash Sync Port
Cons
No Bluetooth
No Touch Screen
No Articulating Screen
Weight: 740g
Type Scores

Pentax K-5 has an Overall Score of 73/100 and ranked #51 out of 206 in DSLR cameras, and ranked #140 out of 1222 in all cameras.

Pentax K-5 Scores
Imaging score
59
Features score
78
Value for money score
86
Portability score
74
Overall score
73
Average Scores in Semi-Pro DSLR
Imaging Score
55
Features Score
58
Value For Money Score
73
Portability Score
70
Overall score
61

Physical Dimensions of Pentax K-5


Pentax K-5 weighs 740g and has external dimensions of 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.16 x 3.82 x 2.87"). Considering that the average weight of Semi-Pro DSLR cameras is 783g, Pentax K-5 is 43 grams less than the average weight of cameras in this category. Pentax K-5 is less by 10mm more than the average length in Semi-Pro DSLR.

Weight Comparison
Semi-Pro DSLR Cameras


Pentax K-5
740g
Average weight
783g
Min weight
479g
Max weight
1074g

Thickness Comparison
Semi-Pro DSLR Cameras


Pentax K-5
73mm
Average Thickness
75mm
Min Thickness
64mm
Max Thickness
86mm

Here is the front and top view image of Pentax K-5 with the dimensions:

Pentax K-5

Size Compared to Major Competitors


Model Weight K-5 Dimensions K-5
Pentax K-7 Pentax K-7 750 g 740 g 131 x 97 x 73 mm 131 x 97 x 73 mm
Pentax K-5 II Pentax K-5 II 760 g 740 g 131 x 97 x 73 mm 131 x 97 x 73 mm
Pentax K-50 Pentax K-50 650 g 740 g 130 x 97 x 71 mm 131 x 97 x 73 mm
Pentax K-3 Pentax K-3 800 g 740 g 131 x 100 x 77 mm 131 x 97 x 73 mm
Pentax K-S2 Pentax K-S2 678 g 740 g 91 x 123 x 73 mm 131 x 97 x 73 mm
Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30 650 g 740 g 130 x 97 x 71 mm 131 x 97 x 73 mm
Pentax K-70 Pentax K-70 688 g 740 g 126 x 93 x 74 mm 131 x 97 x 73 mm
Pentax K-1 Pentax K-1 1010 g 740 g 137 x 110 x 86 mm 131 x 97 x 73 mm

Specifications of Pentax K-5


General
Brand Pentax
Model K-5
Announced December, 2010
Body Type Mid-size SLR
Lens
Lens Mount Pentax KAF2
Manual Focus
Focal Lens Multiplier 1.5
Number of Lenses 150
Macro Focus Range n/a
Screen
Screen Size 3"
Screen Type Fixed
Screen Resolution 921k pixels
Touch Screen
Live View
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.61
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 11
Number of Cross Focus Points 9
Photography Features
RAW Support
Min Shutter Speed 1/30 sec
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000 sec
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 13.00
Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External Flash
AE Bracketing
AE Bracketing Range ±5 EV
WB Bracketing
Sensor
Sensor Size APS-C
Sensor Type CMOS
Sensor Dimensions 23.6 x 15.7 mm
Sensor Area 370.5 mm²
Sensor Resolution 16 MP
Max Image Resolution 4928 x 3264
Max Native ISO 12800
Min Native ISO 80
Max Boosted ISO 51200
Min Boosted ISO 0
Video Features
4K
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
Video Formats Motion JPEG
Timelapse Recording
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
Connectivity
GPS Optional
Wireless Connectivity Built-In
Bluetooth
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Battery
Battery Life 980 shots
Battery Type Battery Pack
Battery Model D-LI90
Physical
Weight 740 g
Physical Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73 mm
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Shock Proof
Storage
Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage Slots 1
Other Features
Self Timer
Selfie Friendly

Latest Semi-Pro DSLR

Nikon D780
Nikon D780

25MP | Full frame BSI-CMOS | Nikon F mount

Canon EOS 90D
Canon EOS 90D

33MP | APS-C CMOS | Canon EF/EF-S mount

Pentax K-1 Mark II
Pentax K-1 Mark II

36MP | Full frame CMOS | Pentax KAF4 mount

Nikon D850
Nikon D850

46MP | Full frame BSI-CMOS | Nikon F mount

Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Canon EOS 6D Mark II

26MP | Full frame CMOS | Canon EF mount

Nikon D7500
Nikon D7500

21MP | APS-C CMOS | Nikon F mount

Pentax KP
Pentax KP

24MP | APS-C CMOS | Pentax KAF2 mount

Sony Alpha A99 II
Sony Alpha A99 II

42MP | Full frame BSI-CMOS | Sony/Minolta Alpha mount

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

30MP | Full frame CMOS | Canon EF mount

Canon EOS 80D
Canon EOS 80D

24MP | APS-C CMOS | Canon EF/EF-S mount

Latest DSLR

Pentax K-3 III
Pentax K-3 III

26MP | APS-C CMOS | Pentax KAF2 mount

Canon EOS Rebel T8i
Canon EOS Rebel T8i

24MP | APS-C CMOS | Canon EF/EF-S mount

Nikon D6
Nikon D6

21MP | Full frame CMOS | Nikon F mount

Nikon D780
Nikon D780

25MP | Full frame BSI-CMOS | Nikon F mount

Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
Canon EOS-1D X Mark III

20MP | Full frame CMOS | Canon EF mount

Canon EOS 90D
Canon EOS 90D

33MP | APS-C CMOS | Canon EF/EF-S mount

Canon EOS Rebel SL3
Canon EOS Rebel SL3

24MP | APS-C CMOS | Canon EF/EF-S mount

Nikon D3500
Nikon D3500

24MP | APS-C CMOS | Nikon F mount

Canon EOS Rebel T7
Canon EOS Rebel T7

24MP | APS-C CMOS | Canon EF/EF-S mount

Canon EOS 4000D
Canon EOS 4000D

18MP | APS-C CMOS | Canon EF/EF-S mount