Pentax K-5 IIs

Pentax introduced the K-5 IIs in 2012 as an APS-C DSLR with a 16.3 megapixel CMOS sensor. You frame shots through an optical pentaprism viewfinder, which gives a direct view of the scene.

This is a camera for photographers who put stills first. In-body stabilisation is on hand for handheld work with any KAF-mount lens, and the body carries weather sealing for outdoor conditions.

Owning it involves some older habits. At 760 g without a lens, it needs a proper camera bag, and with no wireless options, images come off the camera through the memory card.

At the core is a 16.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor driven by the Prime II processor. That resolution gives comfortable room for cropping and prints at everyday sizes. The Optics score of 60 is good, and the camera sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

Burst shooting reaches 7 frames per second at maximum, enough to catch short action sequences. The 1/8000s top shutter speed also helps keep exposures under control when shooting in bright light.

Autofocus uses an 11-point array, and the ISO range runs from 100 to 12800, spanning bright daylight through to low-light scenes.

In-body stabilisation is the defining strength here. Because the sensor moves to counter shake, every lens on the KAF mount benefits, including optics that have no stabilisation of their own. It reduces camera shake when shooting handheld at slower shutter speeds.

Video is a modest side of this camera, and the score of 57 reflects that. The maximum resolution is Full HD, and the highest frame rate on offer is 25 fps. These figures cover standard clips rather than high-rate or slow-motion work.

Clips are recorded in the Motion JPEG file format and stored on the same SD, SDHC or SDXC cards used for stills, and a single slot means video and stills share space.

There is a built-in timelapse function, so the camera can shoot a sequence over time without add-on interval equipment.

For a photographer whose priority is stills, this video capability is fine for occasional clips alongside the main work.

Handling centres on a fixed 3-inch LCD with 921,000 dots. There is no touch input, so menus and settings are worked through the physical buttons, which suits photographers who like direct controls.

Live view is available when you want to compose on the screen rather than the finder, which helps with precise framing on a tripod.

A built-in flash handles simple fill light, and support for external flash units opens the door to bigger lighting setups. The body is weather sealed against dust and moisture, though that is not the same as a waterproof rating.

Connectivity is the weak point. There is no WiFi, no Bluetooth and no built-in GPS, so images come off the camera by memory card. The modest Features score of 54 partly reflects the screen's size and dot count alongside the missing Bluetooth.

Storage runs through a single slot taking SD, SDHC or SDXC cards. With no second slot, there is no overflow capacity or in-camera backup, so packing spare cards is worthwhile for long shoots or video sessions.

The D-LI90P battery carries a 980-shot rating, though real endurance varies with how you shoot. A second battery is a sensible addition for travel.

Charging happens in an external charger, as there is no USB charging from a computer or power bank, so the charger needs packing too. The Storage & Battery score of 43 is modest, and the single slot plus missing USB charging explain most of it.