Pentax K-5 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Pentax K-5? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Pentax makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the K-5 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon.com) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Pentax K-5 below.
In any case, the K-5 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was officially introduced on September 20th, 2010, which means that, as of today, the camera is 5496 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Pentax K-5 II as a replacement in the same line of cameras.
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Pentax's operating manual for the K-5
The camera's operating manual is 383 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the K-5 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Pentax K-5 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Pentax's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Pentax K-5 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Pentax K-5
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your K-5 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Pentax K-5 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
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Pentax K-5 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the K-5.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Pentax K-5?
The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used in the Pentax K-5 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Pentax equipped the K-5 with the PRIME II image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Pentax K-5?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-51200.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Pentax K-5?
Pentax mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the K-5. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the K-5 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Pentax K-5?
Pentax embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your K-5 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Pentax K-5?
No, the Pentax K-5 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Does the Pentax K-5 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Pentax K-5 for flash photography?
The K-5's flash sync speed is 1/180 sec.
Which battery does the Pentax K-5 use?
The camera gets its power from the Pentax D-LI90 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Pentax K-5?
Yes, Pentax offers the D-BG4 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Further reading
How does the K-5 stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Fujifilm X-A3 vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Pentax K-5
- Fujifilm X10 vs Pentax K-5
- Leica M11 vs Sony A9 II
- Leica S-E Typ 006 vs Pentax K-5
- Leica T vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon D4S vs Pentax K-5
- Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-5
- Panasonic TZ90 vs Sony A9 II
- Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 II
- Pentax K-5 vs Sony NEX-5T
- Sony A9 II vs Sony ZV-1
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Pentax K-5.
| Camera Model | Pentax K-5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
| Camera Lens | Pentax K mount lenses | |
| Launch Date | September 2010 | |
| Launch Price | USD 1 099 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
| Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 23.7 x 15.7 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 372 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 28.4 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 1.5x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 16.1 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 4 928 x 3 264 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 4.81 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 4.32 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
| Movie Capability | 1080/25p Video | |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 12 800 ISO | |
| ISO Boost | 80 - 51 200 ISO | |
| Image Processor | PRIME II | |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 82 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 23.7 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 14.1 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 1162 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.61x | |
| Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
| LCD Resolution | 921k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
| Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 7 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
| Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
| Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
| Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | no | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
| Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
| Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
| Battery Type | Pentax D-LI90 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 740 shots per charge | |
| Body Dimensions |
131 x 97 x 73 mm (5.2 x 3.8 x 2.9 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 760 g (26.8 oz) | |
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