Pentax K5 $849 16mp DSLR w/ weather seals, image stabilization, magnesium body, 100% pentaprism

Yeah, I thought that once, then I bought a NEX. Man was that ever a waste of time and money. The A57 seems like a cool camera for reasons that have nothing to do with the sensor -- in fact you mentioned them.I would like to try it but I'm wary of Sony lately. Might just be the miserable NEX experience talking.

By the way, my K-5 wielding friend likes to take his camera to the beach and in the water. Let me know how that goes with the A57.Spoken like someone who doesn't actually use their camera to take photos, just test charts. But okay, whatever. Out of curiosity, I pulled the DPR compare tool on RAW at ISO 3200 between the OM-D and the A57. They look pretty much the same -- I think the Olympus is retaining slightly more detail but I'm really splitting hairs in calling the rendition of either camera particularly better or worse. I expect the Sony IS better in concrete ways, but the DPR compare tool is not showing whatever advantages it may have (color depth and DR are of particular interest). It will be interesting to see the DXO numbers on both cameras, though I try to avoid putting too much weight in their metrics. I also avoid putting too much stock in who manufactures a sensor. Fuji, Nikon, Pentax have all proven that it's possible to take someone else's sensor and produce radically different results. Olympus has also proven that it's possible to take someone else's 12 MP sensor and accomplish nothing, so you take the bad with the good.

In any case, I disagree with your basic assertion that the sensor is the most important element of a camera. An important element obviously, but I would suggest that the camera options in any given class are similar enough that the sensor is not a big concern. I would also suggest that if you're picking a camera over another because of the sensor in it, your priorities are severely damaged and you're probably out of your depth as a photographer. (Rather than sensor format, which has some significant implications outside of by-the-numbers performance.) Take the NEX. It is most assuredly not a "bad" camera. But I hated mine. I want nothing to do with the system, for reasons that have nothing to do with the undeniably stellar imaging performance. It clashed badly with what I expect and need from a camera, which makes it a terrible camera for me. No review can possibly cover that, and the greatest most unbelievably amazing sensor in the history of mankind would not change that. Some decent lenses at reasonable non-Zeiss prices might, but that's another story entirely.

None of which matters here, of course, as the Pentax has a stellar sensor in it.

P.S. I'm pretty sure the OM-D has the Pana 16MP in its newest revision, no matter what games Oly wants to play. The GH3 is arriving later this year and I would be surprised if its sensor was significantly different from the OM-D in any way.

1) weather proof is not that important to me (or anyone for that matter unless he or she works for National Geographic magazine) just like I could careless about built-in GPS or WiFi. It has no added value to the image quality in the end. So unless your K-5 wielding friends work as a photo-journalist, I suggest they bring a waterproof, freeze-proof, shock-proof $300 P&S camera with them to beach, instead of a $900 DSLR because salt water is bad for any electronics no matter how good it is designed to shield from the elements.
2) What is the #1 purpose of any camera? To take great pictures or close to it as possible, right? So for me, there isn't any component of the camera that is responsible for this task more than the SENSOR (dismissing the photographer's skills of course). Sure you can say the glass that's attached to the front of the sensor matters, the speed and accuracy of the focus, the image stabilization (in-body or on lenses) or the image processor ect..ect... but to me it comes down to the SENSOR. Try using that same well-regarded Olympus 45/1.8 lens on the EP-1 and then switch the lens over to the EM-5 and tell me why sensor don't matter when it comes to image quality. Speaking of image quality, sure the reviews and accolades of your soon arriving E-M5 only tell part of the story. At the end of the day, I trust what my own eyes see more than what the review charts or graphs tell me. And from the numerous samples that I've seen on DPreview forums, that new 16mp sensor comes close to matching the Sony's APS-C sensor in the NEX5n but stills lack behind in terms of overall dynamic range, tonality and great high ISO (beyond 3200). So enjoy your EM5's weather sealing, blazing fast auto-focus, 5-axis IBIS, built-in EVF, great Olympus jpg engine. But when it comes to that 16mp sensor, think about the SENSOR in the NEX-5N or the NEX-7 and then please dont forget to say to yourself "close but no cigar".

Pentax k5 via Ebay daily deals [ebay.com]

This is a GREY market product! The listing above says that it is brand new, factory sealed, but that it is an imported product that does not carry the standard Pentax warranty. But for some, this might be ok to save a few bucks...

That said, I have this camera and it is amazing. I regularly shoot at iso 12800 with very few concerns about the image being too noisy. See the links below to see what this sensor can do in these very demanding situations:

pentax k5 high iso set #1 [flickr.com]
pentax k5 high iso set #2 [flickr.com]

According to Digital Photography Review:
"the K-5 - arguably the best APS-C DSLR currently on the market"

Some things that I really like that you won't find on a spec sheet:
Very quiet shutter - great for not attracting attention to yourself causing expressions from people looking not too comfortable. Also keeps the photo-police in some places from knowing you're taking pictures.

Great grip - Of course this is subjective, but everyone that has held on to it says how comfortable it is. It's super stout, easy to grip w/ one hand, and aids stability.

Highly customizable - All modes have many options for what the wheels or buttons do. For example - in AV mode: you can change the aperture adjustment to the front or back wheel. the other wheel can be set to change iso, exposure compensation or do nothing. want the iso to favor a high shutter speed? no prob. Or maybe you want the auto iso to keep the lowest iso w/ a shutter speed that's the lowest recommended for the focal length you are using. ok. Want the raw button to begin the bracket mode to fire 5 shots w/ one button press? Sure thing. I know a lot of this is familiarity and other DSLR's will let you do similar things - But Pentax controls are less menu based than other brands which lets you get control more intuitively and faster.

Here are some of the specs:
Pentax K-5 Digital SLR Highlights

High-resolution, low-noise, true-to-life image reproduction
The K-5 incorporates a newly designed CMOS image sensor with a wide image-sensitive area measuring 23.7mm by 15.7mm. It assures high-speed image data readout much faster than that of previous sensors. By coupling this image sensor--equivalent in performance and data processing speed to the image sensor incorporated in the Pentax 645D medium-format digital camera--with the reliable PRIME (Pentax Real Image Engine) II imaging engine, the K-5 produces super-high-resolution, rich-gradation digital images with 16.28 effective megapixels, while suppressing annoying digital noise to a minimum.

High-speed continuous shooting at approximately seven images per second
The K-5’s high-speed continuous shooting mode records as many as 22 images in a single sequence at a maximum speed of seven images per second.

Responsive, high-precision AF system
The K-5 features a new-generation, wide-frame SAFOX IX+ autofocus system with 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors positioned in the middle). This sophisticated AF system has completely redesigned optics, and factors the light source at the time of shooting into its calculations to improve the accuracy of autofocus operation. It also offers a choice of shutter-release options--between focus priority and release priority in the AF.S (single) advance mode, or between focus priority and speed priority in the AF.C (continuous) advance mode. The K-5 is also equipped with a spotbeam projector to assist the AF system in poorly lit locations.

Compact, solid, functional camera body
Despite its compact dimensions, the K-5 is built to be exceptionally solid and durable, with a body of sturdy yet lightweight magnesium alloy, and a chassis of high-rigid stainless steel. Thanks to the inclusion of 77 special seals in the body, it also boasts a dustproof, weather-resistant and cold-resistant construction, assuring reliable operation even under harsh environment and at temperatures as low as -10°C. It also features a reliable shutter unit that provides a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second and tested to 100,000 shutter releases.

Bright, clear optical viewfinder with 100% field of view
The K-5 features a pentaprism finder with a nearly 100% field of view and at 0.92-times magnification (with a 50mm F1.4 lens at infinity) to provide a better view of the image field and improve the accuracy and speed of focusing and image composition. It also comes with the renowned Natural-Bright-Matte focusing screen to assist the photographer with manual-focus operation.

Effortless Live View shooting Thanks to a new image sensor and a more sophisticated algorithm, the K-5’s Contrast AF mode assures better performance and greater focusing speed than before during Live View shooting. With the addition of a Golden Section display, the K-5 offers a choice of three different grid patterns to facilitate image composition.

Pentax-original SR mechanism with user-assisting options
The K-5 features the Pentax-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism, which effectively compensates the adverse effect of camera shake by 2.5 to 4 shutter steps, to produce sharp, blur-free images.

Recording of Full HD-proportion movies (1920 x 1080 pixels, 25 frames per second)
The K-5 captures beautiful, true-to-life movie clips in 16:9 full HD proportions (1920 x 1080 pixels) at a frame rate of 25 frames per second. The K-5 also provides greater possibilities in visual presentation in movies, especially through the application of custom images and digital filters.

Innovative image-processing functions to produce distinctive photographic expressions

Custom image function for distinctive finishing touches: letting users easily select the desired finishing touch for a particular image.
Versatile digital filter function: The K-5’s digital filter function allows the user to process recorded images in a variety of creative ways and produce highly individualized visual expressions without requiring a computer.
Cross process mode with three options: The K-5 features the unique cross process mode, in which the camera automatically shifts photographic parameters for each exposure to create eye-catching images with unique, dramatic colours.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) function: The K-5 features the HDR (high dynamic range) function to create one composite image with an extra-wide gradation range from three images with different exposures, without requiring a computer.

Additional Features

Electronic level function, with a newly added tilt confirmation tool
Extended-exposure NR (Noise Reduction) function, with a choice of Auto, On and Off modes
High-sensitivity NR (Noise Reduction) function, with a camera-dependent Auto mode and a user-adjustable reduction level control for different sensitivity settings
RAW/Fx button, for single-action switching of image file format
Large, easy-to-view 3.0-inch wide-view colour LCD monitor with 921,000 dots
77-segment multi-pattern metering system for extra-accurate light measurement
DR II (Dust Removal II) mechanism
Long battery life, for recording of 1,100 images with full recharge
User-friendly Hyper control system, to flexibly and accurately respond to the photographer’s creative intentions
Dynamic-range expansion function, to compensate for both whitewashed (overexposed) and black-out (underexposed) areas
Automatic compensation of distortion and lateral chromatic aberration (available only with DA-,DFA- and FA Limited-series lenses)
CTE mode, to automatically adjust the white-balance level to emphasize primary colours of sunset scenes
Attachment of copyright credits on recorded images
D-BG4 Battery Grip (optional) for extra power supply with an exclusive rechargeable lithium-ion battery or six AA-size batteries
Color-specific control buttons/dials for easy recognition and quick access, based on the universal colour design
Pentax Digital Camera Utility 4 software package


Here's a review on DPreview:
pentax k5 review on dpreview [dpreview.com]


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2) What is the #1 purpose of any camera? To take great pictures or close to it as possible, right?

noob question.. can Pentax cameras use Nikon or Canon lens as well? or a whole new set

noob question.. can Pentax cameras use Nikon or Canon lens as well? or a whole new set

if one is looking for the best in optics (within, say, a $3K budget), especially for the full size sensor, then the choice might be different from Pentax. I don't think there is anything close to Nikon's 21.9oz 24mm f/1.4g in the Pentax line (Pentax 36.7oz 25mm f/4.0? but this is apples and oranges comparison)

but back to your point, quality optics do weigh more - take Nikon's 34.2oz 14-24mm f/2.8. Also compare Pentax's 15.2oz 12-24mm f/4.0 vs. Nikon's 16.4oz 12-24mm f/4.0

$850 for this caliber of camera is an excellent deal. If you are invested in Pentax system and satisfied, then you probably have already pulled the plastic out and now eagerly waiting for the camera to arrive.

However, if you are new to photography with perhaps a P&S or entry level DSLR and thinking about making it a serious hobby, I would recommend you consider carefully the decision to invest (and commit) in a camera system, especially Pentax.

I love Pentax gear and was a committed Pentaxian for over 30 years until I finally made the decision to change systems in 2008. I still have a K10D and many manual focus K-mount prime lenses that I just can't bear to part with but will probably never use. My decision was based on the lack of availability of gear (primarly newer quality AF lenses) and virtually non-existant support by 3rd party suppliers. Regrettably, after being one of the major innovators in photography Pentax is now a niche player.

To summarize, the K5 is a serious camera which assumes the user has moved beyond P&S photography. It fits in the "enthusiast, advanced amateur" market. At this level, glass and accessories become the bigger and more important investment. I would say you will have a minimum of $1,500 in addition to the camera body for a fast prime, couple of medium quality zooms and flash ... just to get started. That now puts you at around $2,500. Unless you just gotta have this camera, there are much better ways to spend your money in camera gear that will allow you to continue to grow and develop.

I love this camera and Pentax in general. You cannot beat the price/performance ratio and the build quality. I love hiking and being outside shooting in rain and snow when the rest of the world (Canikon) hides.