Pentax K5

The Pentax K5 is an APS-C DSLR released in 2010. It takes KAF2-mount lenses and frames through a pentaprism optical viewfinder, so composition happens at eye level with a real optical image.

Its defining pairing is weather sealing plus in-body stabilisation. That combination suits stills photographers who work outdoors in changeable conditions, since the body resists the elements and handheld frames stay steadier.

Ownership is straightforward but dated. The body weighs 740 g, so it is a camera you carry with intent. There is no wireless transfer and only one card slot, so images move off the camera via the SD card and spares live in your bag.

The K5 earns a good optics score of 60, which places it around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics. At its heart is a 16.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor paired with the Prime II processor.

Stabilisation is built into the body, so it works with every lens you mount, including older designs that lack their own stabilisation. It counters camera shake only, so moving subjects still need a suitable shutter speed.

The autofocus system offers eleven points. The 7 fps burst rate covers short action sequences, though that figure is a maximum rate rather than a sustained speed.

The ISO range runs from 100 to 12800, and the shutter reaches 1/8000 s. A fast shutter helps when shooting in bright light or at wide apertures, while the wide ISO range leaves room as light falls. The top of the range is headroom rather than a promise of clean output.

The K5 offers video recording, and its video score of 57 is modest. The recording options explain why: maximum resolution is Full HD, and the maximum frame rate is 25 fps. Those are separate limits, so check which combinations the camera offers before counting on them together.

Footage records as Motion JPEG, which stores each frame much like a compressed still. Movies share the camera's SD, SDHC and SDXC cards with stills, so clear card space and carry a spare before a long session.

A built-in timelapse function rounds out the movie side. The resolution and frame-rate ceilings suit occasional clips and interval work, but anyone planning sustained video production will feel the limits.

The features score of 54 is modest, and the profile leans practical rather than modern. Weather sealing protects the body in dusty or damp conditions, though it is not a waterproof guarantee. That protection is the camera's strongest handling asset.

The 3-inch TFT screen carries 921,000 dots, enough to check focus and colour with reasonable confidence. Live view is available, but the screen is fixed and has no touch input, so framing at awkward angles is less convenient.

Both a built-in flash and external flash support are present, covering everything from fill light to stronger lighting setups. There is no GPS, so location tagging needs another method.

The storage and battery score of 43 is modest, and the single card slot is the main reason. One slot means no in-camera backup if a card fails. SDXC support at least lets large-capacity SD cards carry a full shoot, and a spare card covers capacity instead.

The D-LI90 battery is rated at 980 shots. Real endurance varies with settings and usage, and heavy live view use draws more power, but the rating is a solid figure.

Charging does not happen over USB, so the battery comes out of the camera between sessions. For travel, a charged spare is the practical answer.