Pentax K-5 II Pro Reviews

A good, solid, weather-sealed camera with a tried-and-true sensor, the Pentax K-5 II remains a solid digital SLR that's easy to recommend. With a decided bent toward enthusiast users, the Pentax K-5 II pairs well with the company's line of Limited lenses, and is good to have along with a Weather Resistant lens on a rainy day.

That the Pentax K-5 II is a minor upgrade on the Pentax K-5 is not necessarily a bad thing, as the Pentax K-5 was an impressive model in itself. Its headline improvement of a more sensitive AF system is minor although combined with the changes to the LCD screen and the lower launch price (£250 less) it's unquestionably a better proposition than the Pentax K-5. Still, it would have been nice to see small kinks ironed out in this latest release, such as the stiff focus selection dial, and perhaps improvements made to image noise. It's certainly welcome to see the Pentax K-5 IIs arrive at the same time too. Although testing does indeed show it to have a higher resolution than its sibling, as we have seen this isn't always an entirely positive attribute - in other words, there's a good reason for each camera to exist alongside the other. So which do you buy? If you tend to alternate between a range of different subjects, you're perhaps safer with the Pentax K-5 II, knowing that it will still provide good image quality with a lower risk of aliasing. If, however, you tend to stick to landscapes and other natural subjects where man-made subjects feature infrequently, the Pentax K-5 IIs is worth the extra outlay.

The biggest "upgrade" to the K-5 II is undoubtedly the more afforable price-tag - a body-only price of £799.99/$1,199.95 is very attractive and signifcantly undercuts the K-5 II's main rivals. If you haven't considered Pentax DSLRs before, then despite being very similar to its predecessor, the new K-5 II is definitely worth more than a cursory glance.

This was clearly an interesting proposition and I was keen to see for myself what difference, if any, the removal of the AA filter would make. The conclusion was quite obvious as soon as the images were examined. Removing the AA filter lends an incredible clarity to the detail in images. Shoot carefully on a tripod, use good lenses and the benefits will definitely be worth it. Architecture, landscape, still life, studio work, all will benefit from the IIs variant. However, to be fair, the II version is £130 less and delivers excellent results in its own right. If we shoot holiday pictures, family, people and other general hand-held shots then the K-5 II will deliver perfectly well. Printed at small sizes the advantages may not be so clear. But for the enthusiasts, the camera club competitions, commercial work and professional use the K-5 IIs definitely gets my vote. It does make a difference, that difference is quite clear, and the extra £130 is well worth paying.

Like its predecessor, the Pentax K-5 II succeeds where it matters most. It produces high image quality (although its resolution scores are a little low), boasts strong autofocus performance, high build quality and is easy to use. It is a pity we can't add the camera's exposure metering to the list of superlatives, because capable though it is, the few occasions where overexposure does occur can frustrate. However, the biggest problem the Pentax K-5 II faces is the old Pentax K-5. While the specification and performance of the newer model is marginally better, the price difference is far more pronounced. Hence if you're in the market for a high performing APS-C format DSLR with a great all-round ability, the original Pentax K-5 could well be a more tempting proposition at the right price than the slightly more capable Pentax K-5-II. Likewise, if you already own a Pentax K-5, then the Pentax K-5 II is unlikely to provide much of an upgrade. Make the leap from the older K-7, however, and you'll be far more likely to appreciate the much improved image quality and autofocus performance. And graduate from entry-level cameras such as the Pentax K-r or Pentax K-x, and you'll be in for a treat. Easy to use, built to last and based around a decent sensor, the Pentax K-5 II is a great value DSLR. It's just a pity it's so close in spec to its predecessor.

The Pentax K-5 II is a top-notch D-SLR when it comes to still capture, but its video performance is disappointing in comparison.

The Pentax K-5 II is a top-notch D-SLR when it comes to still capture, but its video performance is disappointing in comparison.

The Pentax K-5 II is a rugged, magnesium alloy bodied, weatherproof, well designed and high quality camera with a kit zoom that is really very good indeed, and provides a package that looks very exciting against its rivals. It is more compact, arguably slicker in operation and provides the highest standards at a relatively low price level. There's not much to dislike, so the K-5 can be totally recommended. The only caveat that remains is that, while stocks last, the original K-5 still offers most of what the K-5 II can do, and that may well be a better option in terms of cost if the low light AF performance improvement is not an issue. Prospective buyers may be well advised to move quickly on that option, before it is gone and no longer a decision to be made.