Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Pentax
K-x

Pentax K-x

60
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 camera has a deep, contoured handgrip on the right-hand side, coated in a rubberized compound to aid grip, that enabled me to use three fingers to hold it and my right forefinger to operate the shutter button."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's feel

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
97 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 123x92x68 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Canon EOS 50D

57
Runner-up

Canon EOS 50D
"Nine point auto focus system accurate, even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's auto-focus
"It feels solid, reliable and 'well sorted' from an ergonomics point of view"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's feel

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 80% more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.3 fps vs 4.7 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.56x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 640 shots vs 420 shots
Help
 More than 50% more shots per battery charge
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/6000s
Help
 More than 20% faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 63.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 811 ISO vs 696 ISO
Help
 The K-x has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Size Smaller 123x92x68 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 97 ms vs 131 ms
Help
 Around 30% 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
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 2.7" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Weight Lighter 580 g vs 822 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $674.92 vs $1,281.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $607 cheaper (around 50% less)
Pentax K-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
57 vs 60
Explain scores
Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-x. 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

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0
votes
by Scott-Harmon last week
Canon T3i vs Canon 50D

i am taking my wife on an Alaskan cruise.  I keep thinking just take my 50D and not my video, bu...

2 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" I get a chuckle when Adorama in NYC lists Canon 50D as "vintage" but in a way that seems fitting..."

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2
votes
by Char-Sevig last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 5D Mark II

I currently have a canon xsi, with several lenses. A canon 70-200mm f/4 L ,55-250mm, 50mm 1.8 ,18-...

One person recommends the Canon 5D Mark II:

"I recently upgraded from the XSi to the 5D Mark II and couldn't be happier. As I'm sure you know, ..."
1
votes
by Leslie-Gumtz-Bradley last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 60D

I am an artist that loves photography. Want easy and to be able to react quickly and also do manua...

One person recommends the Canon 50D:

"The 60D makes some small incremental improvements on the 50D, I'd recommend getting the 50D just t..."
0
votes
by Tim-Bullock last month
Canon 50D vs Canon 60D

I have a 50D. Will lenses and accessories such as battery grip, flash, etc. work if I move up t...

One person recommends the Canon 50D:

" The 50D and 60D have the same lens mount and hotshoe, so all your lenses and flashes will be tra..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
50D:131 ms
K-x:97 ms
Thickness Thin Help
50D:2.9"
K-x:2.7"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
50D:95%
K-x:96%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Focus points Few focus points Help
50D:9
K-x:11
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
50D:3,200 ISO
K-x:6,400 ISO
Movie format One shoots movies Help
50D:None
K-x:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-x
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the K-x
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-x
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D90 vs the K-x
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-x
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D5100 vs the K-x
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
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 50D
Compare the D3100 vs the K-x

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 40D

Canon EOS 40D

Pro DSLR

$650 body only
Color depth Better color depth
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS 40D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Shutter lag More shutter lag
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 50D

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$631 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Slightly larger
Compare the K-r vs the K-x

appearance

Canon EOS 50D Pentax K-x
Canon EOS 50D Pentax K-x
Canon EOS 50D Pentax K-x

discussion

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