#1 dan

I don’t know, i love Pentax but this camera just seems a poor job, its cheap but it needs something to make it stand out. Canon have 50x zoom, Panasonic have that amazing f2.8 lens. It needed the Q sensor (and mount).

12:52 pm - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

#2 Joshua Amahit

Yea this camera is a bit off if you ask me. there seems to be a tons of other bridge style cameras that offer better imaging features and controls.

There is nothing unique on this one. but I guess this camera would stand out for those who mind the price more than the overall features. then again, fujifilm has wide array of bridge cameras for a bout any price… so i dont really know where to palce this one if I had the chance.

4:04 pm - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

#3 Chris

In the conclusion Photography blog says “the Pentax X-5 soon reveals itself to be something of a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

Don’t you actually mean a sheep in wolf’s clothing!

7:07 pm - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

#4 zebarnabe

Pentax Q sensor is quite good for its size, I wonder why can’t they make a cheap Pentax Q camera with bridge priced and spec’ed lens.

One could then have the bridge spec’d lens, a prime, a super wide angle, etc… cost wise it shouldn’t be that high and quality wise would please many while keeping versatility, size and weight in a nice spot…

While the camera price is not that high for a bridge, it is a matter of price vs quality :/

8:34 pm - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

#5 Oliver

Compared the X-5 sample images to the Pana FZ200, and was careful to pick only the ones with similar ISO settings. Since many images are shot at the same location, comparing is both interesting and revealing. Well, either the X-5 impresses or the FZ200 dissapoints. The highly regarded Leica lens and Pana’s endlessly refined and improved FZ-series hard- and software will be better on paper, but when comparing it to the X-5 output,the difference is marginal and sometimes not there at all. Both show noise and other sensor limitations. In the end the FZ is ‘highly recommended’, while the X-5 ‘recommended’ with half a star between them. I know, the FZ EVF is much better as will be the build quality. But looking at the price level, the FZ is firmly in entry DSLR, the X-5 in compact camera territory. You can buy two X-5’s for the price of one FZ200. I’ll have the X-5. Thanks for the review.

10:02 pm - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

#6 Mad Hungarian

Hey, I own this camera and I love it. It does not pretend to be anything that it is not. A solid value at $250-300 range. I travel a lot to areas where recharging is not possible. Normally take 3 extra sets of lithium AAs and I am good for days. Has wide angle, excellent color reproduction, fold-out bright LCD screen, good weight, built-in-flash, good enough macro, good zoom range. This is all I need on my mining expeditions. And if I’d drop it and gets destroyed I just go and buy another one. Perfect travel camera.

11:43 pm - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

#7 NR

It ASTONISHES me how often otherwise good camera reviews will gloss over image quality as almost incidental due to other features. If the IQ is no good, what’s the point of the camera? Looking at the images from the Pentax, I didnt’ know they still made cameras this bad, especially compared to cameras such as the Canon SX40 etc.

6:56 am - Thursday, October 25, 2012

#8 zebarnabe

There are worse cameras being released… this one is no that bad.

Imagem quality vs. Price is all over the board, the old Canon A800 costs 55€ and it is pretty awesome for example.

8:23 am - Thursday, October 25, 2012

#9 Oliver

@NR: check the SX50 sample images. Most are taken under the same grey and wet London weather conditions, some at the exact same locations like the community center. What I’m seeing is a variation in image processing with the SX50 producing a somewhat smoother output, alas not in a higher image quality catagory. The X-5 is to my eyes certainly not “this bad”, it hold up fine against the competition and costs a lot less.

9:14 am - Thursday, October 25, 2012

#10 matt

Looks like good value for money. This is the camera that I’d recommend for non-photographer friends and family if they wanted a big zoom.

I especially like the EVF. It’s not really high-res, but at least it exists for those LCD-crippling bright-sunny-day situations. Not much else in this price range has one.

4:36 pm - Thursday, October 25, 2012

#11 JB

For 8 years I only used SLR camera’s (from Pentax) for nature photography.
Because of the huge amount of lenses and other accessoiries I decided to by a bridge-cam: The X-5
Just back from a short “Majorca-holyday” i have to say: I’m honestly pleasant surprised by this camera.
It did a really great job. Macro (which i use very often) is superb! Lowlight conditions: better than mentioned here: Okay!
The only things I don’t like are the lack of an AV/TV setting and the build quality: the battery-door could be more solid…
Anyways: I’m a new happy owner!

11:53 am - Saturday, October 27, 2012

#12 JGT

I’ve looked at this Pentax-camera, I like the camera but the reason why i’ll not buy this camera, is the lack of a hotshoe fot an external flash. I wonder why Pentax doesn’t put a hotshoe on this camera. It seems to me that with a hotshoe, you can do more with this camera.

5:22 pm - Saturday, October 27, 2012

#13 Bernie Masters

I’m tempted to buy the X-5 primarily because it takes ordinary batteries. I can spend 2 or 3 weeks away in the outback of Australia where rechargables simply wouldn’t be an option. Can anyone suggest alternatives to the X-5 that have better image quality but still takes standard AA batteries?

12:44 pm - Wednesday, November 7, 2012

#14 zebarnabe

Bernie Masters,
At X-5 price range/quality no, Fujifilm has FinePix HS25EXR / HS28EXR, FinePix S4200, S4300, S4400, S4500 ...

HS25 EXR is probably a good rival… though it does cost a bit more (not much though), you have the extra zoom, the great manual controls (missing RAW though) and a crazy DR in EXR mode…

Sensor and lens wise, HS25 EXR, I think it has the same as the ones in HS30 EXR, so it is just missing some crucial features like: RAW, Better EVF, Li-on Battery…

Take notice that Alkaline batteries don’t last that much in cameras with AA’s…. where Li-on rechargeable can do 2 or 3 times more, it’s not a rule though, you can get 4 rechargeable AA’s for less than half the price of a cheap Li-on battery…

1:30 pm - Wednesday, November 7, 2012

#15 Bernie Masters

Thanks for the suggestions, zebarnabe, I’ll have a look at the FinePix models. Best wishes.

12:19 am - Thursday, November 8, 2012

#16 Regbaron

Look the X-5 is a great camera for the traveller on a budget,for $270 yep $270 you get a 16mp,22-580mm (26x)stabilised lens,foldout LCD or electronic viewfinder,HD movie and much more.
I snapped one up just because of the value,didn’t even check it out in the shop.( Here’s a couple o pics from Sydney Harbour Bridge ).  http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/filter/pentax-x5-sydney-255443

9:28 am - Thursday, November 15, 2012

#17 Matt Brading

This sounds like a great ‘second body’ camera but I’m in the market for something a little bit more substantial. I’m also a long time Pentax fan but given the age of all my lenses, wondering if it might be a good time to switch brands. What’s the consensus out there ... if Pentax still competitive on price, image quality and features?

11:14 pm - Sunday, November 18, 2012

#18 melvyn flores

Its a great camera. Sharp pics, triple blur reduction, view finder, 10 frames per second, filter were you can edit your pics. and has a manual mode not found in other bridge cameras.
Surely, it has some imperfections but aren’t more
expensive ones have too?

4:23 pm - Sunday, November 25, 2012

#19 Derek

can anybody explain the use of the M setting on theX5? I thought that the idea was to select the choice of shutter speed or aperture and the camera would set the corresponding step. Fiddling with either setting has no effect on the other.

12:28 pm - Tuesday, November 27, 2012

#20 tracy

Anybody know if you can put a lens hood on this camera, given that it doesn’t have a filter threads?

5:07 am - Saturday, December 1, 2012

#21 Regbaron

No i don’t think so, its not designed for one as the lens retracts when turned off.

6:38 am - Saturday, December 1, 2012

#22 Timtomato

I am looking to buy my first bridge camera, could anyone tell me if the x5 is worth it or are there better cameras out there for a similar price? Thanks

12:58 pm - Monday, December 3, 2012

#23 Regbaron

The X5 is defiantly worth it,makes a good travel camera and i find it easy to use.I suggest you check it out and some of the others in a camera store,but for someone on a budget its a gem.

11:38 pm - Monday, December 3, 2012

#24 timtomato

Thanks Regbaron, i think im going to get one.

10:19 pm - Friday, December 7, 2012

#25 Regbaron

Ok!,but do check out some of the others before you decide.

8:14 am - Saturday, December 8, 2012

#26 Regbaron

Here is a link to some Pentax X-5 images. ( http://pentaxworld.com/forum/general-photography/pentax-x-5-sample-images/ )

4:38 am - Monday, December 10, 2012

#27 Jay

I bought mine from my local Asda for a mere £123! It was the display model and had to go as new stock was due to arrive. Am mightily impressed with this camera, however I do have issues with battery consumption. I am using Duracell 2400 mAh rechargeables and get fewer than 100 pics with them afore the red warning light appears. Not a huge problem, but a blight on an otherwise great camera.

2:35 pm - Saturday, April 27, 2013

#28 Jay

I forgot to mention…..it would have been very nice if Pentax could have supplied a printed user manual (alongside the quick user guide) as it’s a pain having to boot the computer up just to read the PDF file.

2:38 pm - Saturday, April 27, 2013