Canon EOS
500D
 vs
Pentax
K-x

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Pentax K-x

Pentax K-x

71
Winner

Pentax K-x
"Image stabilisation via the camera body is a great feature that works very well when hand-holding the camera in low-light conditions."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's image-stabilization
"The 12.4 megapixel JPEG images were a little soft straight out of the camera at the default sharpening setting"
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
72.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.8 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Canon EOS 500D

54
Runner-up

Canon EOS 500D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 20fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 80% more lenses available
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 2.7"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 520 g vs 580 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.1 more bits of color
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 63.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 811 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
 The K-x has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 97 ms vs 159 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The K-x's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.7 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
 Around 40% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.56x vs 0.54x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 More than 30% faster max shutter speed
Pentax K-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
54 vs 71
Explain scores
Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-x.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 500D
 Canon EOS 500D vs Pentax K-x
PentaxK-x
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
3
27
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
2
25
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
2
25
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
25
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
3
25
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
4
23
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
2
25
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
500D:159 ms
K-x:97 ms
Size Fairly small Help
500D:129x98x62 mm
K-x:123x92x68 mm
Thickness Thin Help
500D:2.4"
K-x:2.7"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
500D:400 shots
K-x:420 shots
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
500D:3,200 ISO
K-x:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$664 - $932 body only

$763 - $964 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the K-x
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$484 - $559 body only

$572 - $659 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the K-x
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D3100 vs the K-x
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$860 - $1,018 body only

$922 - $1,045 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 600D vs the K-x
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$649 body only

$523 - $579 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the K-r vs the EOS 500D
Compare the K-r vs the K-x
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the D5100 vs the K-x
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$803 body only
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Compare the EOS 450D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 450D vs the K-x

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 500D.

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$1,029 - $1,500 body only

$1,349 - $1,650 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger
Compare the K-5 vs the K-x

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Pentax K-x
Canon EOS 500D Pentax K-x
Canon EOS 500D Pentax K-x

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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Showing 1 comments

CameraMan (9:15 AM, August 09, 2011)
Got me sold.