Canon
EOS-1D Mark IV
 vs
Pentax
K-5

Updated (October, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1D X vs Pentax K-5

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

79
"Excellent AF performance during our testing"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's auto-focus
"Good, Full-HD video with a wide range of shooting options"
dpreview.com | talking about the EOS-1D Mark IV's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
104 ms shutter lag
Battery life
 Great battery life
1500 shots
Focus points
 Many focus points
45
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
39
Pentax K-5

78
"The K-5 has a very similar sensor inside it to the Nikon D7000's, and like the Nikon, the K-5 displays excellent image quality across almost its entire ISO span."
dpreview.com | talking about the K-5's image-quality
"All of the major controls fall readily to hand."
dpreview.com | talking about the K-5's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
82.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
104 ms shutter lag

differences

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 39 vs 9
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Focus points Significantly more focus points 45 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 1500 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Lens availability More lenses available 125 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,320 ISO vs 1,162 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-H 27.9x18.6mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Help
 More than 40% larger sensor
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 51,200 ISO
Help
 The EOS-1D Mark IV's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Learn more about
the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 74.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Size Much smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 156x157x80 mm
Help
 2.1x smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 740 g vs 1,230 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $890.00 vs $4,999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,110 cheaper (5.6x less)
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.60x vs 0.59x
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-1D Mark IV Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
79 vs 78
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. 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.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV or the Pentax K-5,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by motoservo last month
Nikon D3 vs Pentax K-5

I'd say the pros on the K-5 are much more important than the pros on the D3. And the fact that t...

One person recommends the Pentax K-5:

" The K-5 has better dynamic range, which is nice for outdoors shooting. And if you're shooting d..."
2
votes
by alissahyoo last week
Canon T3i vs Pentax K-5

Trying to make video shorts, but I enjoy taking photos just as much. Wish I could do the kill tw...

13 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" i recommend this because i have a t2 and the quality is great, and it also have a lot of gadgets..."

" While the sensor found in K-5 is highly regarded (similar if not essentially same SONY made sens..."

" If it's video capabilties first, I would recommend the 600D. The 600D has so many cool things to..."
13 people recommend the Pentax K-5:

" The Pentax K-5 is an exceptional camera for stills and for video.  And the price has dropped qui..."

"Well, the K-5 is the better camera when it comes to photos, since its sensor is very close to that..."

" I've used Canon 1000D, 1100D, 450D, 500D and Nikon D3100 respectively. Now i m using a pentax k-..."
0
votes
by Tom-Robins-Vazhappilly last month
Nikon D700 vs Pentax K-5

I don't think I'm a beginner, cause I have been using a EOS 1000D for the last 4 years and I wan...
1
votes
by Wesley-Egan last month
Canon 60D vs Pentax K-5

I'm a beginner photographer and have been told by quite a few people  (that know about photograp...
1
votes
by insleep last month
Pentax K-5 vs Sony SLT A77

Me; A little beyond beginner. Need to learn a lot more with manual adjustments . Achievemen...

One person recommends the Sony SLT A77:

" Having had both cameras I would highly recommend the A77. First off you get 8 more MP which is h..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
104 ms shutter lag
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
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
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,198 body only

$2,898 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
Size Is slightly larger
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the K-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm 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-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the K-5
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the SLT A77 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Compare the SLT A77 vs the K-5

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D4 vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,137 - $9,321 body only
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS-1Ds vs the EOS-1D Mark IV
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Much longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Cross type focus points Significantly fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the D3S vs the EOS-1D Mark IV

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Pentax K-5.

appearance

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Pentax K-5
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Pentax K-5
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Pentax K-5

discussion

Showing 0 comments