Image sensor type IMX071 | ||
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Lens Interchangeable Pentax KAF3 and KAF2 mount compatible with Pentax auto-aperture lenses; older lenses supported in stop-down metering mode |
The Pentax K-5 is a 16.3-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera, announced on September 20, 2010. It began shipping in mid-October 2010 and it was replaced by the Pentax K-5 II in the third quarter of 2012.
Contents
Externally, the camera body is almost unchanged from the Pentax K-7 (the mode dial on the left side is slightly higher). The main improvements compared to the previous model are higher light sensitivity (ISO range between 80 and 51,200, high ISO performance with improved noise control); an increase in sensor resolution by nearly two megapixels; and an all-new autofocus subsystem, SAFOX IX+.
The use of a Sony sensor in the K-5 signalled a major departure from the Samsung sensor partnership.
The latest firmware release is 1.16.
Feature improvements
Consistent with previous Pentax models, there are many small improvements as well:
Notable features
More information is available at Pentax K-5 Camera Reviews and Specifications—PentaxForums
Video mode
The K-5 can record video at 1080p full HD as well as at lower resolutions using the motion JPEG codec. Videos can be recorded at the following resolutions and frame rates:
DxOMark sensor tests
DxO Labs gave the 16.3 MP Sony-built sensor a score of 82. This ranked at the time of testing, the highest ever for an APS-C sensor and ahead of several full-frame sensors such as the one used in the Nikon D3. One of the major factors was shadow noise and dynamic range (in RAW mode, to bypass in-camera processing). However, the closely related sensor in the Nikon D7000 scored 80.