Pentax K-5ii or K-5iis

<p>Which of these cameras should I buy?<br />On a lot of photos I do not notice any difference, but I clearly see moire on s version. </p>

<p>The difference between the two is the low-pass filter. This is also called anti-aliasing filters. These filters do soften images slightly, but the reason is to minimize pattern interference with the sensor’s own grid pattern. When photographing WITHOUT repeating patterns, K-5 IIS users should gain a slight sharpness advantage. The problem is repeating patterns do occur in nature. The problem then are moiré patterns appearing in images.<br>

I have the Kiis and have seen the problem a few times. But my images taken through this camera are darn sharp.</p>

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<p>My best friend has a K5ii, and I have a K5. Image quality is essentially identical between our two cameras -- which is to say very good. But it is not razor sharp like you can get from a camera with weaker AA filter (K-01 is VERY sharp) or no AA filter. I do find the K5 and K5ii files benefit from post-production sharpening.<br>

The real question is about the risk of moire -- and on that topic, I can't offer any advice.</p>

 

<p>Moire really annoys me. K-5ii"s photos looks sharp too. I have examined several good samples from ephotozine.com site. I am content with K-5ii images. Evevn with a cheap but good 50/1.8 they are good. S version pictures sometimes look agressively sharp. </p>

<p>I say the moire the merrier. I haven't seen any moire in my K5IIs shots. Go for it, you'll love the extra sharpness.</p>

<p>I have a IIs and moire is rarely an issue--for my shooting. It really comes down to being somewhat more careful in pp (I've never had to <em>reduce</em> sharpness.) </p>

<p>I would spend the extra $ and buy the K-5IIs unless you are a fashion photographer where new fabrics with repeating patterns, in runway lighting, could create an issue.</p>

<p>I have seen moire in my shots with the Kiis, not so far in of my nature images, but certainly in man-made objects. I would say unless nature is your target (and even then it may occasionally rears its ulgly head), go with the K11</p>

<p>Drat! There goes my idea of photographing snake skins.</p>

Capturing sharp images with great detail will happen with both the K-5 II and K-5 IIs. After considering both I opted the K-

5 II. I had two reasons for this:

 

- I had decided to shoot mostly with primes which are very sharp indeed. My latest are the HD DA 21 and HD DA 40 and I have

just recently ordered the HD DA 70.

 

 

- You can always sharpen a little in post processing if needed.

 

Camera bodies change so fast with today's technology, I believe saving a few dollars and investing in better glass is a

wise investment. After all what's the point in having a camera capable of producing stunning images if the lenses are not

up to the task.

<p>I bought my K-5II last Black Friday at almost half the price of the K-5IIs and I am extremely happy with it.<br>

The K-5IIs with the battery grip and 64GB card is $697 at B&H. They no longer sell the K-5II.</p>

<p>I have not seen much Moire with my K-5 IIs, but I have seen aggressive over sharpening in some images which causes weird patterns in things like telephone lines, or repeating patterns both man-made and natural. Once I enlarge the image the weird patterns go away. Good thing about the IIs is that it does captures 3D, "medium format" like images due to that extra bit of resolution. Usually no PP sharpening is needed.</p>

<p>I still haven't turned on the AA simulator on my K-3 after almost a year and I haven't noticed any moire either. But I shoot mostly landscapes (but not exclusively).</p>

<p>I have found some patterns on the net and have tried to edit the part of K-5ii image to sharpen it. The trunks of the trees can sharpen well. But the S version can sharpen even much more. <br />Here I have sharpened <em>OLNY</em> the left fragment. </p><div></div>