01Responsive 11-point AF system with nine cross-shaped sensors

The K-5’s sophisticated AF system captures the subject with great precision and speed. Featuring nine cross-shaped sensors in the middle of the image field, it works with unfailing accuracy with all types of subjects — even with striped patterns, which linear sensors often have trouble detecting. In the Select mode, a push on the OK button lets you set a focus point in the middle sensor, while a long push on this button lets you shift a focus point to any of the sensors via four-way controller control.

02Sophisticated metering system to accommodate a range of scenes and shooting styles

The K-5’s advanced 77-segment multi-pattern metering system covers all 11 AF sensor points to accurately measure the lighting condition over the entire image field. The system comprehensively assesses all exposure data, including the camera’s orientation (vertical or horizontal), distance to the subject and magnification. This helps minimize the adverse effect of point light sources and prevents excessive underexposure of subjects in backlight. The K-5 also offers a choice of metering mode from 77-segment metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering.

03Flexible exposure system featuring PENTAX-invented Hyper Control system

The K-5 comes equipped with the PENTAX-original Hyper Program (P) and Hyper Manual (M) modes. The P mode lets you control the depth of field and emphasize the subject’s movement at will, while the M mode simplifies manual-exposure operations. The K5’s flexible nine-mode exposure system also features Sensitivity-Priority (Sv)* and Shutter-speed/Aperture-Priority (TAv)** modes.

* When the user sets the desired ISO sensitivity, the camera automatically selects the optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed to provide a normal exposure level.
** When the user sets the desired aperture and shutter speed, the camera automatically selects the optimum ISO sensitivity to provide a normal exposure level.

04HDR function to assure worry-free handheld shooting

The K-5’s HDR (High Dynamic Range) function takes a set of three images at normal, under- and over-exposure, then selects areas exposed at a normal level from the original set to synthesize them into a single image.*** The K-5 is also equipped with a new automatic position adjustment function,**** which automatically compensates for slight misalignment of the composition among three original images, to extend the benefit of the HDR function to handheld shooting. The HDR mode can be selected from Auto, Normal and Exaggerated (levels 1~3).

*** Images must be recorded in the JPEG recording format. The HDR function is not available when the camera is set in the RAW+ mode.
**** This function may not yield the desired effect when there is excessive misalignment of the three images. This function may not be available under certain conditions, including certain lens focal lengths and subject patterns.

05Multiple exposure for easy, computer-free composition of eye-catching images

The K-5 allows you to take multiple images (two to nine) and synthesize them into a single, creative image with great ease. After every shutter release, the camera repeats the process of synthesizing images and balancing exposures (when the auto exposure control function is activated), and instantly displays the result on the LCD monitor. During live-view shooting, the previously synthesized image is displayed as a semitransparent guide on the monitor, allowing you to more precisely align a new image with the already-synthesized one before the subsequent shutter release. With the K-5, even complicated multiple-exposure photography is made fun and effortless.

061/8000-second high-speed shutter to freeze a decisive moment

The K-5 incorporates a high-speed shutter unit with a top speed of 1/8000 second. By intentionally raising the camera’s ISO sensitivity level, you can take advantage of higher shutter speeds — for instance, freezing the split-second action of a fast-moving subject sharply and vividly. Higher shutter speeds also come in handy when using large-aperture lenses, as you can open up the aperture to throw the background out of focus, even at very bright locations.

Other features

• ±5 EV exposure compensation for extremely high/low-key images
• Auto bracketing (2, 3 or 5 images, selectable) to capture the subject at different exposure levels (with a one-push bracketing function that takes all the images with a single shutter release)
• Built-in auto flash (manual pop-up type), with a guide number of approximately 13 (at ISO 100/m), a flash synchronization speed of 1/180 second, a discharge angle covering a 28mm lens (in the 35mm format), and a discharge level control function.