01In-body SR (Shake Reduction) system to minimize camera shake

The K-5 comes equipped with the PENTAX-developed image-sensor-shift-type SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism. Compatible with all PENTAX interchangeable lenses, this sophisticated mechanism effectively compensates for the adverse effect of camera shake by up to approximately four shutter steps,* even at dimly lit locations or during shooting with a telephoto lens.

* The extent of shake reduction may vary depending on the lens used and/or photographic conditions.
Note: The SR system should be turned off when the camera is mounted on a tripod.

02Upgraded Custom Image function to add distinctive finishing touches

Custom images allow you to better reach your creative goals by adjusting the image’s color scheme and ambience. The K-5 features new Reversal Film and Bleach Bypass modes to give you greater flexibility in creative expression. In addition, this function now offers a new parameter called Extra Sharpness, which is designed to produce images more vivid and fine-detailed than those created by the conventional Fine Sharpness option. When applied in landscape photography, this new parameter delivers extra-fine images with edge-to-edge sharpness.

03Dependable white-balance control system, featuring the unique CTE mode

The K-5 assures extra-accurate white-balance control by adding the lighting data detected by the light-source sensor to the color-temperature data obtained by the image sensor. In addition to an array of preset options to accommodate various light sources, it also provides a manual-control option that lets you register up to three different color temperatures of your choice. It also comes with the PENTAX-original CTE option, which is designed to emphasize the primary color of the image.

04Dynamic-range expansion for well-defined shadows and highlights

When faced with high-contrast scenes, the K-5 allows you to expand the dynamic range to minimize both whitewashed and pitch-black areas lacking details. You can also use this function to adjust for the brightness difference between the subject and the background. Highlights can be compensated for up to approximately 1EV, while shadows can be adjusted in three levels (low, medium, and high). They can be compensated either independently or simultaneously.

05High-sensitivity NR function, with sensitivity-specific noise reduction effects

The K-5’s high-sensitivity noise-reduction function can be not only turned on and off, but it also offers a choice of a reduction level from low, medium and high (with an identical noise-reduction effect applied to all ISO sensitivity settings). Via a custom function, you can even assign an Off mode or one of three reduction levels to each ISO sensitivity setting, allowing you to react effortlessly and flexibly to various creative requirements and photographic conditions.

06Buffer RAW Memory function to save a captured JPEG-format image as a RAW-format file

The K-5 allows you to create an additional RAW-format file of an already-captured JPEG-format image after shooting.** When the AE-L button is pressed during image playback, RAW-format data stored in the camera’s buffer memory is transferred to and saved on the memory card. This convenient function comes in handy when you want to develop your image in ways other than the original JPEG-format image.

** Only the last image taken can be stored as a RAW-format file. (During continuous shooting, only the final image of a sequence can be stored; during HDR shooting, only the normal-exposure image can be stored.)

07High-performance PRIME II for high-speed, 14-bit RAW data processing

The K-5 incorporates the state-of-the-art PRIME II imaging engine, which now features a new algorithm to process 14-bit RAW-format image data output by the camera’s imaging system without any compression (meaning that it is theoretically capable of processing approximately four times more image data than its 12-bit counterpart). This means that this engine delivers high-quality images far superior in gradation and resolution to previous engines. In addition, the camera’s buffer capacity is almost doubled to accommodate the data-rich images created by the exceptional imaging power of 16 effective megapixels and 14-bit data processing.

Other features

• Extended-exposure noise-reduction function, with a choice of Auto, On and Off settings
• Expanded bracketing to automatically capture an image with three different finishing touches (a set of three images recorded and saved with a single shutter release)
• New Cross Process finishing touch mode (available only during shooting)
• Distortion compensation and lateral chromatic aberration compensation functions (Note: Compensation may not be available with certain lenses and/or under certain conditions.)
• Vignetting compensation function (available with the accompanying PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4 software)