Canon EOS
5D Mark III
 vs
Pentax
K-5

Updated (March, 2013): Compare the Canon EOS 7D MII vs Pentax K-5 II

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

89

  
Pentax K-5

73

  

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,293 ISO
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 
Runner-up

Pentax K-5

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
104 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 130x96x72 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 5D Mark III
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,293 ISO vs 1,162 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark III has a slight edge (1 f-stop) in low noise, high ISO performance
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 41 vs 9
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Focus points Many more focus points 61 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.60x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 22.1 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 40% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark III's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Lens availability More lenses available 125 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Battery life Longer battery life 950 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 51,200 ISO
Help
 The 5D Mark III's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Color depth Better color depth 24 bits vs 23.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 500 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Learn more about
the Canon 5D Mark III

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 11.7 EV
Help
 2.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 152x116x76 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 82.0 vs 81.0
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 120 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Weight Lighter 740 g vs 950 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $691.90 vs $3,249.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,558 cheaper (4.7x less)
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5D Mark III
89 vs 73
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
5D Mark III:120 ms
K-5:104 ms
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Thickness Thin Help
5D Mark III:3"
K-5:2.9"
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the EOS 6D vs the K-5
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D800 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the K-5
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D600 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 5D Mark III
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 body only
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Size Much larger
True resolution Lower true resolution
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the EOS 5D Mark III

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$498 - $690 body only

$557 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Weight Lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the K-30 vs the K-5
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$767 - $997 body only

$1,113 - $1,547 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5

appearance

Canon EOS 5D Mark III Pentax K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Pentax K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Pentax K-5

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