One of the best DSLR's on the market

I too have received the K5 in December from Amazon. The early series was probably very often affected by the sensor spots, so are my K5. However, this a place is so small and only occurs from aperture 22 visible (minimal, if one knows where it is located and in accordance with uniform image area) in that it does not bother me. Nevertheless, I'll leave the camera in the framework of the exchange program of Pentax replace, because I want to get no problems with an eventual resale. I had to 31.01.2011 the possibility to return the K5 to Amazon and I admit, I've been thinking about. That I did not do it's up to the ingenious package that represents the K5.

Advantages:

-easily
-small
-Quick
-Extremely robust construction
-abgedichtet
-intuitiv to use
-Very, very quiet
-very low noise
-High Dynamic Range
-Very good image results already in Jpeg
-brauchbares HDR in camera
-Extensive individual adaptation to personal requirements possible
-5 Storable user settings that can be accessed very quickly
-Open handling of Pentax with the sensor problem

Disadvantages (immediately come to mind no, I would wish me):

-schwenkbares display
-second SD card slot

Parallel I looked at the Nikon D7000 considered, especially from the point, because I still had time to replace the K5. However, the D7000 has probably several problems (keywords: smallpox on the sensor, Hotpix and back focus), as I could read in the forums. Nikon has still made no clear statement here. Also fit for me personally the whole package for various reasons not as good as that of the K5.

The bottom line at the present time I am very satisfied with the Pentax K5 and would buy again at any time.

Supplement 05.08.2012
Now, after 20 months of intensive use of K5 here a few additions:

-very safe white balance in the auto mode
-The Size is optimal when I'm traveling with a backpack (even with the new Photo Sport of LoewePro)
-Many Convenient buttons and knobs to modify essential camera functions directly, without going to the menu, such as quick change of exposure to spot and back.
-Moduswählrad, The setting is much faster, clearer and more secure than for example the way the Nikon strikes at the good models. Why Nikon does not return to the mode dial, will probably remain their secret.
-The Mode dial is locked, accidental adjustment is prevented
-RAW / Fx button for quick switching from RAW to JPEG and vice versa
-Nachträgliches Converting the last image in RAW. Extremely handy if one or another snapshot is really awesome and you want to get out get everything out of the picture.
-Abblendtaste (Optical Preview) directly on the trigger. Could not be better, as the key belongs to and to use them intuitively.
-100% Viewfinder. Who once has him, want him repeatedly.
-Wechselbare Focusing screens
-Very Well Surveying viewfinder, very important for me as a spectacle wearers

The picture quality is even now easily be able to keep up with newer models, or still at the forefront. The dynamic range provides the sensor is truly amazing, and for the first time in the "digital era" I would not automatically draw a camera change with newly appearing sensors into consideration. What is Pentax brings out from this 16MP Sony sensor in the K5 just great.

By the way, I once really put me completely on the nose, EHR or on the K5, with my full body weight. Upon impact on the cobblestones there was a noise, because froze my blood in your veins. The K5 with the Tamron 17-50 has the fall (and who really, bruises and limping including it in itself) actually survived. Except for a few abrasions on Body no further impairments. So I trust the K5 now to some. The fact that the camera is truly sealed, it should be mentioned here only in passing. Rain and sandy, dusty environment has survived the K5 without complaint. Who out there is a lot of traveling so, travel and landscape photography with one of its priorities and rain does not see an invitation to drink tea, but as an image-effective element should look at the K5 necessarily closer. For the price, which is called Amazon, it is impossible to find a better camera.