Pentax How do you like your Pentax K-5? And please show us some of your photos!

I mostly use the K-5.

I use it because I like the shallow DoF I can get with some of my lenses, I like it because I can do macro/closeup without sitting on top of the subject, and I like it because its an incredibly flexible bit of kit. I keep looking at other systems (notably the Olympus PENs) and cannot see myself switching away from a traditionally styled DSLR. I love my outings with the other cameras I use (GRD3, X100, XZ-1) but its a rarity that I don't take the K-5 with me, even if just with a single prime lens.

Recent shots in reverse order of upload to flickr (and posted elsewehre on site, at times)
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Sleeping by kyte50, on Flickr

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Gulls in the Sun by kyte50, on Flickr

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tinnies by kyte50, on Flickr

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Agapanthus1 by kyte50, on Flickr

And so on :)
 
Thanks Sue! Great pictures. I'm contemplating a new DSLR, not as my main camera but for use in certain circumstances. I feel that at times I need something more robust than the serious compacts that I have (Ricoh GRD 4, Ricoh GXR, Pentax Q, even a Nikon V1 (and an unused XZ-1). The K5 sounds like a very solid camera, although I will admit I find the lens selection a little confusing.
 
Hi Andrew! I sold my K5 as it was gathering dust. Fortunately, it's dust proof. Pentax lenses are all about the Limiteds, in my opinion. There are the cropped sensor lenses (DA's) and full frame sensors originally made for film cameras (FA's). For whatever reason, Pentax decided not to use the exact "classic" focal lengths or the exact equivalent for the cropped sensor lenses. But most of them are close enough to the classics.

The DA Ltd lenses tend to be sharper wide open and more contrasts, but a little slower aperture wise. The FA Ltd lenses generally have creamier bokeh for the more "classic" look and less contrast. Out of the Ltd lenses, I've used the DA15/4, DA21/3.2, FA43/1.9 and DA70/2.4. The only one I didn't care for was the DA15/4, because I had a bad lens, and it was not sharp no matter the aperture. I've read of many complaints about QC issues with the DA15/4, which is too bad because it is a premium line lens. The FA31/1.8 is supposed to be a Leica-like status lens. I never used one though. I think Christina has the FA77/1.8, which is another lens that provides for some crazy nice bokeh.

Hope that was somewhat helpful.
 
Pentax lenses are all about the Limiteds, in my opinion.

And yet, there are some really decent zooms as well. I have been very surprised at the IQ from my basic 18-55mm WR lens (which is part of the kit if you buy it that way, I didnt, because it was cheaper for me to get lenses from B&H). The 50-200 WR is...OK.. not startling, likewise the 55-300 which is not WR. I've heard that the 18-135mm WR has better IQ than the 18-55mm but so far haven't felt the need to get it.

18-55mm
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Early Morning Hunter River by kyte50, on Flickr

55-300mm which is what I use because I cannot afford the thousands of dollars for a "Bigma" or even one of the DA* longish primes. The seagull shot above was taken with the 50-200mm WR
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Jump! by kyte50, on Flickr

Andrew, if you *are* thinking of getting a K-5 (or any other Pentax DSLR... apparently theres a new entry level on the way) it would behoove you to go and check out the Pentax Photo Gallery and if you do that, you can see pictures taken by any combination of camera and lens.

Here's the link and the link to the database is under Cameras and Lenses in the navbar, top right. (And you can check out my own PPG, link in sig:p)
 
thanks for the photos :)

Yes the main reason i got the 35mm as first pentax prime was because it got great reviews and it's cheap
it'll make a nice travel kit with the 18-135

In the future i'll add the 55-300 and some other primes

what vintage pentax lenses would you recommend ?
is the 50mm f 1,2 or 1,4 worth adding ?

or any good vintage macro lenses with the k mount ?
 
thanks for the photos :)

Yes the main reason i got the 35mm as first pentax prime was because it got great reviews and it's cheap
it'll make a nice travel kit with the 18-135

In the future i'll add the 55-300 and some other primes

what vintage pentax lenses would you recommend ?
is the 50mm f 1,2 or 1,4 worth adding ?

or any good vintage macro lenses with the k mount ?

Not sure if it's considered a vintage lens, but the one lens I had for the K5 that I used a lot was the FA35/2. It was/is discontinued, but then BH was selling new ones at its site, which I found to be odd. And strangely enough, I think BH is STILL selling new ones! Anyhow, the FA35/2 is sharp wide open, and really sharpens up at f2.8 and beyond. Definitely not a macro lens though, and you already have the DA35/2.4, the FA35/2 is superfluous for you, unless you want that extra half-stop of light.

Now, while the DA35/2.8 Ltd is not a vintage lens, and you already have the DA35/2.4, the photos that I've seen from the DA35/2.8 are super super sharp. And it is a macro lens. I believe Sue has some photos on her Flickr photo stream with the DA35/2.8.
 
Based on musings over at DPR a lot of people have recently purchased the K5 because of its lower price. I gave in and bought one too with the FA 31mm.
 
yes i've seen the 35mm macro too, it seems quite good , but as i went with the 35mm 2.4 for now...

is this a good macro lens ?
Vivitar MC Macro 55mm 2,8

manual focus ofc 1:1
 
Wolf, There's such a wide variety of people comin to these forums, and we dont all know about all lenses, it might be a good idea if you joined Pentax Forum - Camera & Photography Community - PentaxForums.com and/or had a look in the lens database there. There are so many Pentaxians, and they are all very willing to answer questions and help where they can. I find them generally to be an excellent source of information. I *always* check the database before buying a new lens.

Here's the direct link to that lens in the database. Users rate it at 9.25/10 and thats pretty good. I'm assuming that will be visible by unregistered users but not sure.
 
K5 and 31mm arrived and I used it over the weekend. The camera itself feels good in the hand and it's very intuitive to use. It is very nice to have the DR headroom, the bokeh benefits of an APS sensor and the ability to use higher ISOs without worry (over the Olympus 4/3 sensor)! I've found that with deconvolution sharping the K5's stronger AA filter becomes less of an issue. And after primarily using serious compacts for so long now it's nice to have a very performant (relatively compact) DSLR. And I have to say it is nice to have a clear, bright optical VF! I was out today at lunch with the GXR and the EVF was frustrating me in the bright sunshine.

The 31mm has obvious CA and it's soft wide open, but quickly sharpens up. But there is something to the images that is really appealing to me, in both color and B&W. One of those things that is hard to describe.

I'm still confused by the Pentax lens lineup and apparently prices went up significantly over the weekend.

I'll continue to spend time with it and see if it's a keeper.

This weekend we toured a local organic goat dairy. Beautiful day after a lot of (much needed) rain.

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Pt Reyes Station

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Being silly

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Kids playing with kids

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One hour old

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Goats!
 
Thanks for sharing the pics Andrew! Pt Reyes is one of my all time favorite places to visit. Love the country feel and the lighthouse. And I love oysters!! Had the best ever BBQ'd oysters at Inverness.
 
Thanks for sharing the pics Andrew! Pt Reyes is one of my all time favorite places to visit. Love the country feel and the lighthouse. And I love oysters!! Had the best ever BBQ'd oysters at Inverness.

Yeah, it's my favorite place to go. Don't get out there often enough. If you eat meat Marin Sun Farms has excellent beef, goat and lamb, and they serve great burgers.

The oyster farms were packed this weekend. I have not done that yet but it would be fun to bring some beer or wine and eat a bunch of fresh or BBQ oysters right there on the shore.
 
K5 and 31mm arrived and I used it over the weekend. The camera itself feels good in the hand and it's very intuitive to use.

Great little set, Andrew. Must say I am *really* envious of your 31mm but its never going to end up in my bag. I really think it (the K-5) is worth keeping... but I remain unsure of what it is that confuses you about the lens lineup? Is it the odd focal lengths?
 
I went out early today, theres a particular shot I want to get, and I missed it by a few days. Oh well, here's a few from this morning. The first was taken with the DA18-55mm WR kit lens, and the remainder with the DA55-300ED

This first is the one I was hoping to get sunrise coming up between the rails. Unfortunately the sun has moved further north so I now have another 6 months wait. Not sure I'll bother :)
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Stockton Beach Dawn by kyte50, on Flickr

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Gulls...waiting.. by kyte50, on Flickr

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Web in the rushes by kyte50, on Flickr

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Rushes by kyte50, on Flickr

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Early Pond Reflections by kyte50, on Flickr
 
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