About the Pentax X-5
Big zoom for a small price
Big zoom for a small price
You don't have to pay SLR prices to get powerful features from a digital camera. The Pentax X-5 delivers stunning close-ups with its 26X optical zoom, so you can get in tight on subjects from long range, whether you're trying to capture a bird in a tree or your child in the outfield. But what about when your lens is mere inches from what you're shooting? The X-5's auto macro mode automatically adjusts the focus for beautiful macro shots to capture the brilliance of a blooming flower or that weird-looking spider on your porch. The X-5's large backlit CMOS sensor limits noise for high-resolution images even when shooting in low light.
A tiltable display for more shooting angles
Ever find yourself trying to shoot a photo on your tiptoes? The X-5 won't make you taller, but you can get those hard-to-reach shots thanks to its 3-inch tiltable LCD display. Angle the display down and hold your camera high to take pictures right over the heads of the crowd. Or tilt it upward and hold the camera down low to get a view of the action from your child's point of view. There's also an electronic viewfinder for when your want to just hold the camera to your eye for accurate framing.
1080p HD video
Want your home movies to look more like Hollywood productions? Capture precious moments in high-definition with the X-5's 1080p video recording. Digital shake reduction ensures that unsteady hands won't make your masterpiece unwatchable. Connect the X-5 directly to your HDTV via a micro HDMI cable and share your videos with friends and family instantly.
Specifications:
- 16.0-megapixel effective recording CMOS sensor
- 3" tiltable LCD screen (460,000 dots)
- 26X optical zoom (7.2X digital zoom/187.2x total zoom)
- records photos and video onto optional SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi memory cards
- 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 22.3-580mm
Special Features:
- tiltable LCD display provides shooting angle versatility
- sensor-shift and digital image stabilization for blur-free photos and video
- face detection automatically sets focus and exposure for better portraits and group shots
- high-definition movie mode (up to 1080p/30p resolution)
- auto macro mode adjusts focus to macro when subject is close to lens
- 19 scene modes including Night Scene, Digital Panorama and Surf & Snow
- 12 creative filters can be applied post-shot, including Sepia, Soft, and Retro
- variable ISO up to 6400 for shooting flash-free in low light
- manual and auto focus
- manual and auto exposure control
- electronic viewfinder
- pop-up flash
Connections and Dimensions:
- USB and A/V outputs
- micro HDMI output (HDMI cable not included)
- 4-7/8"W x 3-7/16"H x 4-3/16"D
- weight: 21.13 oz. (with battery and media)
- warranty: 1 year
Supplied Accessories:
- lens cap and string
- USB cable
- shoulder strap
- 4 "AA" batteries
- software CD-ROM
- MFR # 12772
What's in the box:
- Digital camera (silver)
- Lens cap
- Lens cap string
- 4 "AA" batteries
- Neck strap
- 5' I-USB7 USB cable (Type A USB on one end and a proprietary connector on the other end)
- Pentax S-SW129 software CD-ROM
- Operating Manual (English)
- Quick Guide
- Serial Number card
- Worldwide Service Network sheet
- Consumer Services card
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More details on the Pentax X-5
Features & specs
General | ||
---|---|---|
LCD Screen Size | 3" | |
Adjustable-angle LCD | Yes | |
Wi-Fi | No | |
Touchscreen | No | |
Waterproof | No | |
GPS-enabled | No | |
Lens 35mm Equivalent | 22.3 - 580mm | |
Optical Zoom | 26x | |
Digital Zoom | 7.2x | |
Filter Diameter | N/A | |
Manual Focusing | Yes | |
Manual Exposure | Yes | |
Built-in Flash | Yes | |
HDMI Output | Micro | |
Memory | ||
Internal Memory | 75.3 MB | |
Memory Stick | No | |
CFexpress Cards | No | |
CompactFlash Cards | No | |
SD Cards | SD/SDHC/SDXC | |
XQD Cards | No | |
Image | ||
Sensor Size | 1/2.33" CMOS | |
Megapixels | 16 | |
Image Stabilization | Sensor Shift | |
Highest Resolution | 4608 x 3456 | |
4K Video | No | |
Video Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | |
Dimensions | ||
Width (inches) | 4-7/8 | |
Height (inches) | 3-7/16 | |
Depth (inches) | 4-3/16 | |
Weight With Battery (ounces) | 21.13 | |
Warranty | ||
Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
Labor Warranty | 1 Year |
Product Research
General Features
Playback and Editing Features
Connections
Battery Information
Supplied Software
General Features
26x Optical Zoom Lens: The Pentax X-5 is a long-zoom digital camera with a 26x optical zoom lens. The X-5's super-telephoto lens has a focal length of 4-104mm, which is equivalent to 22.3-580mm (35mm). This gives you the ability to shoot most any subject, either near or far.
3.0" Tiltable LCD Monitor: The camera features a large, bright 3.0" LCD monitor for viewing the camera settings, framing your shots, and playing back recorded still images and movies. The monitor's 460,000-dot resolution gives you crystal clear images. The tiltable monitor can be lowered down to approximately 60° or raised upward to approximately 90°.
Viewfinder: In addition to the 3" LCD monitor, the X-5 has an electronic viewfinder with approximately 230,000 dots. A diopter adjustment lets you focus the viewfinder to your personal eyesight, if needed.
Image Sensor: The X-5 is equipped with a 1/2.33" CMOS image sensor. It has 16.37 million total pixels and 16 million effective pixels.
Shake Reduction (SR): The X-5 is equipped with the Pentax Shake Reduction (SR) system, which uses a magnetic force to move the image sensor at high speeds, compensating for camera shake. In addition, Electronic Shake Reduction can be added, if needed (Dual). Movie Shake Reduction is also available for movie recording.
Internal Memory/Recording Media: The camera can record still images and movies onto its 75.3 MB internal memory, or SD Memory Cards, SDHC Memory Cards, and SDXC Memory Cards. The camera is also compatible with Eye-Fi cards that can transfer images wireless to a computer or similar device via Wi-Fi.
Still Image Formats: The X-5 can shoot JPEG still images in 11 sizes in 4:3, 16:9 or 1:1 aspect ratios. You can set the image quality level (compression ratio) for each size to Best, Better, or Good. Image sizes include:
- 16M (4:3): 4608 x 3456
- 12M (1:1): 3456 x 3456
- 12M (16:9): 4608 x 2592
- 7M (4:3): 3072 x 2304
- 5M (16:9): 3072 x 1728
- 5M (4:3): 2592 x 1944
- 4M (16:9): 2592 x 1464
- 3M (4:3): 2048 x 1536
- 2M (16:9): 1920 x 1080
- 1024 (4:3): 1024 x 768
- 640 (4:3): 640 x 480
Movie Recording: High Definition movies can be recorded in the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format with audio recorded with the built-in monaural microphone. You can choose from Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 30 frames per second, or 1280 x 720 at 60 or 30 fps. Standard def movies can also be recorded at 640 x 480 pixels (4:3) at 30 fps. The Quality Level is fixed at "Better."
Focus Modes: You can set the focus mode to one of the following:
- AF (standard): Used when distance to subject is 16" or more.
- Macro: Used when the distance to the subject is 4" to 20".
- 1cm Macro: Used when the distance to the subject is 0.4" to 8"
- Infinity: Used for taking distant objects.
- MF (manual focus): Lets you adjust the focus manually.
- AF Area Selection: Lets you select an area of the subject to focus on.
Drive Modes: The X-5 offers multiple Drive Mode options, including:
- Single Frame: The camera takes a single photograph each time the shutter release button is pressed.
- Continuous Shooting: Multiple photos are taken while the shutter release button is pressed fully at approximately 1.12 frames per second at full resolution.
- Burst Shooting: Burst Shooting at higher frame rates (than Continuous Shooting) is available at reduced resolution (5M: 2592 x 1944 or 4M: 2592 x 1464).
- Self-Timer: A single photo is taken after approximately 1 seconds to allow the photographer to get into the picture. A 2-second self timer can be used to avoid camera shake when the shutter release button is pressed.
- Remote Control: Using the optional remote control, the shutter is released immediately after the shutter release button on the remote is pressed. You can also use the remote control for continuous shooting. Pentax offers the optional Remote Control F or Waterproof Remote Control O-RC1.
- Auto Bracketing: You can take three consecutive images at different exposure levels when the shutter release button is pressed. The selected images are saved with each release: at standard exposure, one underexposed, and one overexposed.
Metering: You can select the portion of the image sensor to use for measuring brightness and determining exposure:
- Multi-segment: The sensor meters the brightness in multiple zones (256 areas).
- Center-weighted: Metering is weighted at the center of the sensor.
- Spot: The brightness is measured only within a limited area at the center of the sensor.
Exposure Modes: The top-mounted Mode Dial lets you set the desired Exposure Mode. You can select from the following:
- Auto Picture: Automatically selects the optimal capture mode for the subject. Possible modes include Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene, Night Scene, Flower, Sport, Candlelight, Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Group Photograph, and Text.
- Scene Mode: Lets you choose the capture mode from various scene styles. Scenes include: Flower, Blue Sky, Sunset, Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Fireworks, HDR Filter, Surf & Snow, Baby, Kids, Pet, Food, Digital SR, Stage Lighting, Text, Museum, Digital Wide, Digital Panorama, and Frame Composite.
- Portrait: For capturing portraits; reproduces a healthy and bright skin tone.
- Landscape: For capturing landscape views; enhances colors of sky and foliage.
- Sport: For a fast moving subject; tracks the subject until the picture is taken.
- Handheld Night Snap: Minimizes camera shake for shooting at night or other low light settings.
- Movie: Lets you record movies in High or Standard Definition with sound.
- User: You can save exposure settings and recall them when needed.
- Manual Exposure (M): After the shutter speed and aperture are automatically set for the proper exposure, you can change both settings to obtain the effect you desire.
- Program AE (P): The camera automatically sets the shutter speed and aperture value to obtain a proper exposure.
EV Compensation: You can deliberately overexpose or underexpose a picture using EV Compensation. The compensation value can be set between -2 and +2 EV at 1/3 EV steps.
White Balance: White Balance is a function for adjusting the color of an image so that white objects appear white. You can choose Automatic White Balance (AWB), or a preset White Balance depending upon the lighting source: Daylight, Shade, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light (3 types), or Manual. You can save three settings in the Manual and Color Temperature white balance modes.
ISO Sensitivity: You can set the sensitivity to suit the brightness of the surroundings. The sensitivity can be set to ISO AUTO or manually to ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, or 6400. The Auto Sensitivity Range can be set to 100-200, 100-400, 100-800, 100-1600, and 100-6400.
Flash: The X-5 has a built-in pop-up flash for use in low-light situations. There are several Flash Modes to choose from:
- Auto Flash: the flash automatically fires based on brightness of the scene
- Flash Off: the flash does not fire regardless of subject brightness
- Flash On: the flash fires with each picture when manually popped up; does not charge when retracted
- Auto + Red-eye Reduction: the flash fires automatically with a pre-flash for red-eye reduction
- Flash On + Red-eye Reduction: the flash fires when popped up with a pre-flash for red-eye reduction
- Slow-speed Sync: the flash fires during a slow shutter speed; lights foreground subject while maintaining a distant lit background
- Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye Reduction: the flash fires during a slow shutter speed, with a pre-flash for red-eye reduction
Playback and Editing Features
Quick Zoom: Single images can be magnified up to 10 times in playback mode. While the image is magnified, you can use the 4-way controller to move around in the magnified area.
Multiple Image Display: You can display four or nine images on the LCD monitor at once. Images can also be displayed by folder or in a calendar display.
Image Editing: The Playback Mode Palette lets you perform playback and editing functions on recorded images and movies. Some of the functions include:
- Resize: Change the number of recorded pixels and quality level and save it as a new image.
- Cropping: Cuts out only the desired area of the selected image and saves it as a new image.
- Stretch Filter: You can stretch a user-selected area of a 4:3 image and store it as a 16:9 image.
- Face Processing: Images can be processed to reduce the size of a person's face. The faces must be detected by Face Detection function.
- Digital Filter: You can edit images using the following digital filters: B&W, Sepia, Toy Camera, Retro, Color, Extract Color, Color Emphasis, High Contrast, Soft, Fish-eye, Brightness, and Miniature.
- HDR Filter: You can adjust parts of an image that are too bright or too dark, and process images to simulate an HDR effect.
- Collage: You can create a collage image by placing captured images on a selected pattern.
- Red Eye Correction: You can correct images where the flash has caused the subject to appear with red eyes.
- Frame Composite: You can add a decorative frame to still pictures. You can choose from three frames already stored in the camera, or get additional frames from the supplied software disc or from the Pentax website.
Connections
PC/AV Terminal: The proprietary PC/AV terminal can be used to connect the camera to your computer via the supplied I-USB7 cable. The terminal is USB 2.0 High-Speed compatible. You can also connect the camera to a TV using an optional I-AVC7 AV cable. The cable has composite video and mono RCA audio plugs. The AV output is automatically set based upon the hometown entered at the time of initial setup, in accordance with that region. The video output format can be manually set to NTSC or PAL, if necessary.
HDMI: You can connect the camera to a high definition TV (HDTV) via the Micro HDMI terminal (Type D), located on the side of the camera. A commercially available HDMI cable is required. The camera's default HDMI output is set to Auto. You can set it 1080i or 720p, if desired.
DC-In: If you intend to operate the camera continuously for a long period of time, you should plug the camera into ordinary household current using the optional K-AC129 AC adapter kit. The AC adapter plugs into the dedicated DC-In jack on the side of the camera.
Battery Information
Battery Requirements: The Pentax X-5 is powered by 4 "AA" batteries. You can use Alkaline (supplied), Ni-MH rechargeable, or Lithium. You will need to set the "AA" battery type in the menu (Auto, Li, Ni-MH, Al). The image storage capacity with a fully charged battery is as follows:
AA Battery Type | Normal Shooting | Playback Time | Movie Recording Time |
---|---|---|---|
Alkaline | 330 pictures | 420 min | 75 min |
Ni-MH | 500 pictures | 500 min | 150 min |
Lithium | 950 pictures | 950 min | 280 min |
Supplied Software
Pentax S-SW129: The X-5 comes with the Pentax S-SW129 software CD-ROM disc with the following applications:
- ArcSoft MediaImpression 3.5 (Windows) / 2.1 (Macintosh) for Pentax: software for viewing, managing, and editing images and movies.
- Data for Frame Composite: additional frames for the Frame Composite function; these frames can be saved to the camera's built-in memory (along with the three frames already in the memory). Even more frames can be downloaded from the Pentax website.
Compatible Operating Systems: The supplied software is compatible with the following operating systems:
- Windows:
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP SP3
- Macintosh: Mac OS X Ver.10.4, 10.5, 10.6, or 10.7
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Customer Q&A
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Very good camera for the price. A little learning curve for me but the manual is excellent, and NOT on a disk but is a real reference.
BEC from Wetumpka, AL