Pentax K-5 II Review | 108 Data compared

The Pentax K-5 II is a compact, robust DSLR tailored for expert photographers who prioritize durable build quality and highly effective image capture. The camera features an outstanding 16-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor that delivers exceptional JPEG quality up to ISO 1600, retaining excellent usability even at ISO 3200 and 6400. Key strengths include its class-leading, weather-sealed chassis, advanced customizable ergonomic interface, mechanical sensor-shift stabilization, and an upgraded autofocus mechanism that tracks efficiently in low-light conditions. Additionally, its bundled 18-55mm WR kit lens provides unique weather-resistant protection and solid sharpness when stopped down, making it highly reliable for outdoor shooting. However, the camera falls short for multimedia users due to its outdated and heavily restricted video capabilities, causing it to lose a perfect five-star rating. Video processing is limited by an inefficient, space-heavy Motion JPEG (Mjpeg) codec, default 720p recording, and a messy, monophonic built-in microphone. It also lacks a dedicated physical video recording button, forcing users to switch dial modes to begin filming. Photography performance has minor setbacks as well, including slow Live View autofocus, delayed processing speeds when lens...

The 01net review positions the Pentax K-5 II as a traditional, highly robust DSLR designed for serious, adventurous photographers who already own compatible lenses. On the positive side, the camera delivers excellent image quality with outstanding digital noise management in low-light environments, safely reaching up to 3200 or 6400 ISO. Built like a "rock" out of a magnesium alloy shell, it stands out for its professional-grade weather-sealing (tropicalization) against water and dust. Its high-end photographic specifications include a fast 7 frames per second burst rate, a 1/8000e second shutter speed, and a viewfinder with 100% coverage. Furthermore, the specialized "S" version (K-5 IIs) drops the anti-aliasing filter to provide an even sharper, higher-definition image clarity. Conversely, the camera suffers from an aging technical foundation and a severely lagging video mode characterized by poor encoding quality, substandard integrated sound, and uncooperative ergonomics. It is heavily criticized for its austere and dry menu system and its complete omission of popular creative features like panorama stitching or HDR modes. Hardware limitations further hold it back from true professional status, notably due to a...

Performance and Core Specifications The Pentax K-5 II is a rugged DSLR camera featuring a 16.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and an updated autofocus system that enhances tracking on moving subjects and accuracy in low-light environments. Geared toward serious photographers, the camera relies on its proven image quality and professional-grade specifications. Its standout features include a high-quality 100% optical viewfinder, an expansive ISO sensitivity range stretching from 80 up to 51,200, a fast maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 seconds, and a continuous shooting rate of 7 frames per second. Additionally, it boasts exceptional weatherproofing, incorporating 77 seals to provide full environmental protection for outdoor shooting. A specialized variation, the "K-5 II S", is also available without an optical low-pass filter to maximize image sharpness. Pros and Cons Pros: The camera delivers an attractive price point alongside proven image quality and a highly durable, weather-sealed chassis. Its professional capabilities—such as the 1/8000 second shutter speed, 7 fps burst rate, and mechanical sensor-shift image stabilization—provide strong performance for traditional still photography. Cons: On the downside, the camera suffers from an aging technical foundation...

The initial laboratory review by Les Numériques evaluates the side-by-side performance of the standard Pentax K-5 II and its filterless counterpart, the Pentax K-5 IIs. Testing confirmed that removing the low-pass filter gives the K-5 IIs a distinct pro in image sharpness, rendering finer details like contour lines, graphics card circuitry, book textures, and bottle logos with far greater precision than the standard version. Furthermore, this omission did not negatively impact noise management, as ISO sensitivity handling and noise reduction algorithms remained identically stable across both models. However, this lack of filtration presents a notable con regarding artifacts. The K-5 IIs proved significantly more susceptible to color moiré, creating unnatural colored patterns on complex details, such as component pins and book covers. The reviewer notes that while the standard K-5 II effectively mitigates this interference at the cost of a slightly softer image, the moiré generated by the K-5 IIs requires deliberate, photo-by-photo software corrections during RAW post-processing.

The Pentax K-5 II is a robust DSLR tailored for street and sports photography, featuring a durable, weather-sealed magnesium alloy body and a 100% field-of-view optical viewfinder. Its 16.3-megapixel sensor delivers excellent image quality, characterized by low noise and high dynamic range, while the upgraded SAFOX X module provides improved, reliable low-light autofocus down to -3EV. However, the camera suffers from basic 1080p video capabilities and lacks a articulating screen, limiting its versatility in multimedia applications. Further limitations include noticeable image review lag, potential overexposure in certain scenarios, and reduced processing speed when using in-camera distortion correction.

The Pentax K-5 II is a compact and durable APS-C DSLR camera that highly prioritises robust build quality and field usability. A major standout feature is its weather-sealed (tropicalised) body, making it an excellent choice for outdoor photographers facing sand or rain. Performance-wise, the camera delivers fast startup times and highly responsive shot-to-shot performance. Its 16.3-megapixel CMOS sensor handles noise exceptionally well up to ISO 3200 in JPEG format, ensuring sharp details are preserved while effectively reducing chromatic aberrations. Additionally, the autofocus system performs reliably even in challenging low-light environments, and the clear 3-inch screen offers accurate colour reproduction. However, the camera has notable limitations, particularly regarding its compact body size, which may prove uncomfortable for photographers with larger hands. The standard kit lens is also underwhelming, yielding only mediocre sharpness. While the camera features a Full HD video mode, it is not enabled by default, lacks a dedicated physical video recording button, and outputs heavy, difficult-to-edit files. Video quality is further hampered by overly aggressive contrast and disappointing mono audio capture, though a dedicated microphone input is included to...