Good choice, especially if you already have Pentax SLR lenses

I chose this camera based on reviews on the internet from other buyers and in-depth comparisons to the competing Canon and Nikon models. So far, no surprises.

The pictures look great. I think “image quality” is the most important criterion for a camera.

Also, this camera can take pictures that would be difficult for other cameras to take. For example, it took a nice picture inside an art museum where photos are permitted but using a flash is not permitted. I had not learned much about the camera's features when I took that photo. There was not enough light for my wife’s camera to take a picture.

I’m reading books from the public library to learn how to make better picture by understanding aperture, shutter speed and sensor sensitivity. If you enjoy reading books to understand technical details and don’t mind trying things out until they’re “perfect” then you could consider this camera. If you want pretty good results with not much effort or practice, then you may want to consider a more simple camera.

This camera replaces a 35mm Pentax film SLR bought in 1999. The lenses I bought for that camera work on this new Pentax digital SLR camera. If you don’t have Pentax lenses then you should also consider the competing Canon and Nikon models which may cost less and may offer a broader choice of lenses and other gadgets.

With a good-quality lens attached, this camera feels heavy. That is probably true for any competing camera as well.

The LCD is important for choosing feature settings, but the LCD can be quite difficult to see in full sunlight.

Nearly perfect camera especially at this price point.

I'm a serious amateur photographer and this is my third Pentax DSLR. In terms of handling it's almost identical to the K-7, which I kept as a second camera. Autofocus is slightly faster and locks on with a bit more certainty, although it's not much different than the K-7 in he real world. The camera is still not quite there with the best autofocus systems from the higher end cameras produced by Canikon. In good light the autofocus is fast and accurate, but it's not great in the continuous focus mode.

As many other reviewers have said this camera is built like a brick. It's solid and with the kit lens attached I wouldn't hesitate to shoot in the rain. When I pick up cameras from other manufacturers I am always glad I went with the K-5. The lower level cameras from other manufacturers feel like toys in comparison and their upper level cameras are much larger and a bit heavier too.

The most important part of any camera is the pictures it takes, and here the K-5 simply shines. It produces pictures with over 2500 lines of resolution at ISO 100. The pictures have great tone quality which means this camera takes incredible pictures. The camera also has wonderful ISO quality. At higher ISOs I sometimes run RAW files through noise reduction software and with it can use pictures at ISO speeds that would have been impossible just a couple years ago. In fact, in a pinch I will go all the way up to ISO 51,200 if the shot is going to be small. There will definitely be noise, but it's better than not getting a shot at all.

I mentioned the kit lens earlier and the fact that it's water resistant. But if you want better pictures put on higher quality glass and the camera moves to another level all together. The pictures the K-5 is capable of taking are simply remarkable.

I recently used the camera to take my niece's senior pictures and when my sister-in-law had them processed at Walgreens they wanted a signed release because they thought they were professionally done. That's the quality this camera is capable of producing.

If you're really interested in video, the K-5 does a decent job, but it's not where the camera shines. If video is a big deal to you, I would suggest Canon. That is a Canon strong point. However, if you are buying a camera to shoot still pictures and will use the video only occasionally, this is a camera that gives the photographer much more than they are paying for and at this price point IMHO is nearly the perfect camera.

Finally, Pentax just came out with the K-5ii and it's not much of an upgrade, but that means the K-5 is a real steal right now at well under $800.

Best Bang for the Buck Out There Right Now!

This is a Pro camera at a prosumer price point!

Pros:
·Excellent details
·Great dynamic range
·Exceptional high ISO low light performance!
·Shadow noise is extremely low
·Amazing build quality
·Fast bursts, even in RAW
·100% coverage VF
·1080p HD video
·Lots of built in editing features for stills as well as videos
·In depth controls over almost everything in the camera
·Extremely accurate white balance
·Maximum ISO of 51,200!! And actually usable upto 25,600!!!
·Excellent burst modes even in RAW format
·AF is fast in live view mode even being contrast detect style
·In body image stabilization
·Great ergonomics
·Ability to fine tune NR at every ISO level

Cons:
·No AF during video
·No dedicated button for video(more of a nit pick then a con)
·Some rough edges on diagonal lines

This camera really took high ISO low light imaging to a new level! It is truly almost class leading in this area in the 1.5x/1.6x crop sensor bodies, right there with the Pentax K-x and K-r really, even though they are the class leading bodies.

This body can use ANY Pentax K, K/A, M42, etc. mount lens! So, any lens by any brand ever made for the Pentax cameras, including the M42 screwmount lenses(via a cheap $12 adapter) can be used on this body. Depending on the lens it may be MA(manual aperture) and MF (manual focus) only, AA(auto aperture) and MF, or AA and AF(auto focus). The kicker, EVERY SINGLE LENS used on this body WILL become an IS/OS/VR/SR (image stabilized) lens! So you will have NO need to spend $100's to $1000's extra per lens for IS/OS/VR/SR like you would with Canon or Nikon, this alone is worth its weight in gold! The IS/OS/VR/SR is every bit as good and equivelant to the in lens variants. I tested this side by side when I still had my Canon bodies and IS L glass. I tested the IS/OS/VR/SR in the K10D(nowhere near as refined and as good as the K-5) from 20mm to 1200mm and it worked flawlessly in that range! Even produced a useable hand held image using an M42 Novoflex 400mm f/5.6 + 3x Chinon Teleconverter for the 1200mm focal range!

In price point it compares to the entry level offerings from Canon and Nikon. In build in compares to the D7000 and 60D, except that it is fully waterproof, dust proof, and weather resistant unlike the D7000 and 60D. Features and specifications it is somewhere between the Canon 60D and 1D series.

It is a camera suitable for every one from an amateur level to a full old time Pro and everyone in between!

You're getting quality and value,- more than your money's worth.

I'm not going to nitpick here.

Yes, there were a couple of things which took some getting used to, but they were well worth taking the time to learn. The sensor cleaning setup; the feature which allows you to fine tune your composition without having to reposition body/lens when it is on a tripod; the quality of the files,- and I could go on.

This is one of the very best camera bodies I've ever come across. The overall, weatherproof structure of this thing is unbelievable. My friends, the Nikon/Cannon snobs, have spent a hell of a lot more than I have and, more often than not, gotten less for their money.

Highly Recommanded, lots of fun to use, excellent build and photo quality !

This is my first SLR, but not the first photo camera.
After a thorough research including Nikon D7000 and Canon T2i, 60D, even Pentax K-x, K-r, I decided upon the Pentax K-5.
The feel of the camera is like being an extention of my hand. Even not light weighted, I can shoot photos with one hand easily.
Zillions of features, all logically groupped and the most important with dedicated, or programmable buttons out on the body.
The speed of this camera is amazing, being ready to shoot as soon as you turn it on, no delay.
I keep it actually on the ON status and leave the 1 min timer to turn it off automatically, no need to even bother turn the On/OFF switch anymore.
Photo quality is excellent, perhaps in the same class as D7000 and 60D, but i personally aggree more with the way Pentax deals with the Noise reduction vs. Sharpness/detail issues. However you can customaize the Noise reduction levels for every single ISO setting, any combination you like.
This camera will freak out even the most ferocious gadget freak ! It's really amazing the level of control Pentax allowed to the photographer.
In the same time though, anyone can set it up the way they want and use very fast procedures to shoot.
I personally shoot mostly in Manual mode, and it is so easy to turn the front and back wheels (Tv and Av settings), also selecting ISO and Exposure Bias from top dedicated buttons, that taking photos is lots of fun.
The body of this camera is hammer solid, really professional level. Added to it is the 70+ Weather Resistant seals against water and dust.
The packaged lens is the WR 18-55mm lens, which takes nice photos at any zoom and apperture levels. Of course the max and min zooms give some barrel distortion and abberation, but nothing out of ordinary, especially with the bargain price it has.
I cannot tell anything negative about this camera, I took photos with 3200 ISO at night on the streets and the noise levels are totally manageable. Practically one could use this camera with 1600 ISO at night and 6400 ISO in daylight and never see any noise in your photos. I even used the 51200 ISO for some fun shots in the dark, and it could be useful in case you need to catch something you would not otherwise.
The high speed shooting is out of ordinary, with 7 shots/sec, up to 20-something continuous shots. If you stop from time to time, between shots, it allows you to actually fill up the memory card with fast shooting photos. It took me around 10 min to take over 500 photos on the lakeshore, catching the waves and seagulls flying.
This camera is definetely Highly Recommanded !