Update: Good camera, with some, few weaknesses

I use the Pentax K5 as a professional photographer and do not want to leave me on the technical details, as these have been mentioned enough of others. As a photographer, I wished for a compact but profesionellere camera from the "mainstream". Always following the motto: "other fish in the beautiful daughters ..."
Now, after about 15,000 photos taken with a K5 and 1500 with the replacement body I want to write for those who a short report that flirt with the purchase of a K5.

The K5 is a very robust and suitable for everyday use D-SLR is second to none. Hardly any other manufacturer offers as much power in this price range:

Magnesium alloy, steel chassis, 77 seals to protect against water and dust (Thailand has a rainy vacation unscathed), 100% viewfinder, mirror quieter shock even old lenses (built 1975+) available, to name just a few features.

Operation:

The service works on very short settling quickly and perfectly without "scroll down" through endless menu rows, as in some other camera manufacturers. For me and my hands it is on the dimensions unfortunately a bit too small, but I knew that already when buying, so the optional battery grip was mandatory. Thus, the K5 is (for my needs) course better in the hand.

To change settings such as speed, aperture, ISO are easily and quickly by the two rotary wheel (ISO by pressing the top button and the ISO turning the rear wheel). This can also prove differently in your function at will. Other settings you can by pressing the Info button and the subsequently visible submenu fast change (RAW, JPG, SR, white balance, resolution etc.).

For those who want to switch from a compact camera without manual controls must be said that the use of a semi-professional camera requires nevertheless a familiarization or the study of the comprehensive manual. The functions of the K5 are endless and so many manufacturers should take a leaf from Pentax.

A lens exchange is quick and requires little effort (if you turn to the right side :-))
Yes, the memory card slot is not really solved clean and sometimes hooked the SD card at the take out, but you get used to it and each of the grumbles about bleats at a high level.

Photo quality:

I use both my K5 with the following lenses / flash and almost exclusively in RAW mode to edit this later in PS.

SMC DA * 55mm F1.4
SMC DA 16-50mm F2.8
SMC DA 12-24mm F4.0
SMC D PFA 100mm F2.8
SMC DA 18-55mm (kit lens hardly in use)

Af 540 FGZ (2x)

The image quality I can be described as good. Colors are displayed in the JPEG mode very natural and with little to no visible (color) distortions. In RAW mode one can change almost anything at will, so that a statement is not possible here.
The automatic white balance fits perfectly both in daylight and artificial light and at dusk. So far, I had to make in this area hardly changes in PS. But to all who do not necessarily deal with image processing software (or want to), I would say that the photos made (with restrictions) are very detaillreich. Taking pictures with ISO 3200, the Pentax K5 before no problems. I for one do not see any noise that would materially adversely affect or degrade the photo quality.
Yes, blablabla..Rauschen diverse testing laboratories from ISO 6400 blablabla ... but honestly, who looks at a photo and scans individual pixels to any noise? I photograph for 15 years and have never done it before. Sits a photo? Everything fits? Yes !. Well then the picture is good. Point.
The autofocus sits at sufficiently light fast and reliable, but decreases in the dark. Since the green AF illuminator or the infrared transmitter of Bltzgerätes helps good.

But why with restrictions and only 3 stars?
Now, therefore I come to the negative point of the K5. I doubted at the beginning of my vision, photographer colleagues have consulted, have performed and perform various tests, given the camera and lens Park for fine adjustment, but get replacement devices ...... unfortunately sits the sharpness of the K5 is not optimal. This means that I (at f 1.8-4.0 depending on the lens) should sharpen later 15-20% of the photos. To my chagrin, there are mostly the ones I like the screen layout best :-)
And it's not only an objective or only with a K5 (I have 2 of the baby), but with all lenses that I have and with two K5. These are not just "cheap models" (except the kit lens, this is a very good kit lens).

Is it the camera? Unfortunately, yes, this was confirmed to me after several conversations with the Pentax-service manager and two technicians from photo March in Berlin and Hamburg.

In a K5, the mirror has to ca. 12000 tripping sporadically "hooked" and opened only after a long waiting period back down on its own. It's stupid when it happens during the shoot in the middle and that's what happened to me. Total failure !!! Not beautiful, but fret not bring much.

I see the vultures with the words lurking "that must not happen, I do not never happened with a" Canikon ", can not, can not, will not, never Pentax blablabla" ... Yes, alright, dreams continue ! I have a Nikon D300, D300s and Fuji S5 Pro. Well, also have their quirks.

Does that make the K5 to poor camera? Yes, this is a matter of opinion as to the sharpness I edit all my pictures and if I now nachschärfe in PS in 2 steps or not, the carbon also makes non-greasy. For many, this is certainly a KO criterion. I find the K5 a nearly successful camera that definitely is not suitable for professional use. I hope this little Pentax (with the sharpness and autofocus) gets to grips with.

Conclusion:

Those looking for a camera that (still) is not 100% perfect, but definitely not behind "larger cars" have to hide, has a little knowledge of image editing programs, is allowed to access safely here. In relevant forums and tests also far more expensive models cut off is not necessarily better or "disease-resistant".

In this sense, always good lighting