If you are looking for a quality digital SLR such as the Pentax K5, then be prepared for information overload. The same set of functions and capabilities do seem to be offered by most cameras. Obviously you can have excellent quality photos and more reliable cameras, etc, and that is the difference. So it is who can do the most, and do it better, with the same set of resources.
So the camera you shop for just needs to take care of your needs for it and do it as well as you want it to be. Of course your budget matters and will set your limits, other than that just go with what you like and can afford.
With digital cameras, you need to pay close attention to how the sensing is achieved as well as the processing ability. CMOS technology has been around for decades; however, researchers constantly try to improve it. Another way to think of CMOS is they are IC’s, or integrated circuits. It does matter that a digital camera can sense what is in the optical viewfinder to a greater degree, and better image sensing was designed into the K5.
This is just the starting point for the rest of the innovations related to sensing and processing. Outstanding resolution in your photos that look like the real thing are what you want. So the K5 will give you a 16 megapixel resolution which should make just about anyone happy.
We have all seen certain shots where it looks like the camera was asked to do something that it really was not designed to do. However, Live View was added to this model as a direct result of CMOS and other hardware changes. An entirely new image sensor was added to the K5 along with upgraded software for more precise processing and speed. Some of the results have to do with improved ability to focus and much better auto-focus. Consumers merely have the desire to have fun while making excellent photos. You can use the continuous shoot function with auto-focus and produce high quality, high resolution images.
According to some, they have had experiences with under-exposure in this camera. The amount of it is approximately slightly more than one quarter f stop in under-exposure. The capability for lower ISO applications does excel over other popular models. If you do a lot of work in low light settings, you will find the K5 is able to focus faster and with increased precision. The video, unfortunately, does not have auto-focus capability.
For the non-professional photographer, the Pentax K5 is will certainly provide great photos with lots of other options. However, do not get nervous about the programming as the interface is intuitive. The novice photographer will have a lot of fun with the K5. Nobody really should have a hard time discovering how to operate the K5. But if you are the adventurous kind, then the K5 could be ideal for you.