Capturing Life's Precious Moments with the Pentax K-5 IIs

Discover how the Pentax K-5 IIs camera can help you freeze those precious moments and create stunning images that stand out from the crowd. This blog will explore the features and benefits of this camera and how it can improve your photography skills.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Pentax K-5 IIs article cover photo

Key Features

Jun 04 2013

Announced

16 megapixels

Resolution

BrandPentax
Sensor TypeAPS-C
SensorCMOS
Weight760g
MSRP$1199USD

Other similar cameras

Pentax K-5 II thumbnail

Pentax K-5 II

Released Jun 04 2013 | 16MP resolution

Pentax K-50 thumbnail

Pentax K-50

Released Nov 27 2013 | 16MP resolution

Pentax K-500 thumbnail

Pentax K-500

Released Nov 27 2013 | 16MP resolution

Overview of the K-5 IIs

Photography is all about capturing precious moments and preserving them for a lifetime. The Pentax K-5 IIs camera is a powerful tool for any photography enthusiast who wants to capture life's moments in their best form. This camera is equipped with high-quality sensors that bring pictures to life with crisp, clear details. Its high-speed autofocus system and advanced image stabilization feature make it possible to take handheld shots with ease. In this blog, we'll explore the Pentax K-5 IIs and how it can help you create stunning images that stand out from the crowd.

Pentax K-5 IIs Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Pentax K-5 IIs camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

1. High resolution
great for commercial and professional photography2. Weather sealing
perfect for outdoor shooting in any weather3. Low noise and high ISO performance
ideal for low light photography4. In-body image stabilization
reduces the need for a tripod and allows for handheld shots5. Lightweight and compact design
easy to carry around for extended periods of time

Cons

1. Limited video capabilities
not ideal for those who prioritize videography 2. Smaller range of lenses compared to other camera brands 3. Limited dynamic range
not as versatile for high-contrast scenes4. Slow autofocus system
makes it difficult to capture fast-moving subjects 5. Expensive compared to other APS-C cameras on the market.

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Pentax K-5 IIs

Weather sealed
Dimensions131 x 97 x 73mm
Weight760g
Thickness73mm
Weight
Min
Avg
This
Max
Thickness
Min
Avg
This
Max

Weather Sealing

The Pentax K-5 IIs camera is equipped with environmental seals that make it resistant to weather, preventing water and dust from entering the camera. If you enjoy outdoor photography and need a camera that can handle extreme conditions, the K-5 IIs is an excellent choice.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderOptical (pentaprism)
Screen TypeFixed Type
Screen Resolution921k dots
Body typeMid-size SLR

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a fixed type 3.00" screen, with a display resolution of 921k dots. This makes the Pentax K-5 IIs not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. Unfortunately, the camera does not have a touch screen, which may make it less user-friendly.

Viewfinder

K-5 IIs includes a optical (pentaprism) viewfinder with no electronic viewfinder of resolution with a coverage of 100% and a magnification of 0.61x. This feature enhances the camera's suitability for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Pentax K-5 IIs has a 16MP sized CMOS sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 16 pixels. Pentax K-5 IIs has a native ISO range of 100 - 12800 which can be boosted to 80 - 51200. It can also save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Key Features

Jun 04 2013

Announced

100 - 12800

ISO Range

SensorAPS-C
Extended ISO80 - 51200
Max resolution4928 x 3264 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

82 / 102

Color Depth

23.9 / 26.5

Dynamic Range

14.1 / 14.8

Low Light ISO

1208 / 4505

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Pentax K-5 IIs camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain low amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is poor, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the K-5 IIs is above average

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1x

Full frame equivalent

24mm

This camera: APS-C

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageSD/SDHC/SDXC
Battery Life980 shots
Battery ModelD-LI90
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Pentax K-5 IIs supports SD/SDHC/SDXC with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Pentax K-5 IIs uses the D-LI90 model of battery pack. This is rated for 980 shots shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Pentax K-5 IIs has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. It also offers a flash shoe that allows you to attach external flashes. This provides more versatility in your lighting choices.

Shutter

The Pentax K-5 IIs boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/8000s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Pentax K-5 IIs includes two autofocus (AF) systems: contrast detection and phase detection, with 11 number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

View on Amazon

FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Pentax K-5 IIs?

The Pentax K-5 IIs features a CMOS sensor

Is the Pentax K-5 IIs weather sealed?

Yes the K-5 IIs does have weather sealing.

When was the Pentax K-5 IIs announced?

The Pentax K-5 IIs was announced on Jun 04 2013

Does the Pentax K-5 IIs have in-body image stabilization?

Yes the K-5 IIs does have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Pentax K-5 IIs?

The K-5 IIs has a native ISO range of 100-12800, which can be expanded to ISO 80-51200 for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

View on Amazon

Similar Camera Reviews

Pentax K-50 article cover photo

Blog Pentax K-50 Review: A Powerful DSLR Camera for Stunning PhotosBlog

Check out our comprehensive review of the Pentax K-50, a durable and weather-sealed digital SLR camera that produces high-quality images in any lighting conditions. Discover its key features, performance, and overall value for money, plus expert tips on how to use it effectively. Blog