Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Pentax
K-x

Pentax K-x

74
Winner

Pentax K-x
"Noise is well controlled by the Pentax K-x, starting to appear at ISO 1600 and becoming more easily detectable at the faster settings of ISO 3200 and 6400."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's iso-noise
"The new Pentax K-x occupies the sweet spot between the entry-level K-m and prosumer K-7 cameras."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's overall-performance

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
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
97 ms shutter lag
Canon EOS 50D

67
Runner-up

Canon EOS 50D
"The ergonomics feel well sorted, all the controls are in the right place and even the formerly rather pointless Direct Print button now serves a purpose"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's button-layout
"The EOS 50D has to stand its ground in a highly competitive bracket of the DSLR market."
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

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
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 size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 80% more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
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
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
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 63.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
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
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 580 g vs 822 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 2.7" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $602.61 vs $1,281.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $679 cheaper (2.1x 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
67 vs 74
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.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 50D
 Canon EOS 50D vs Pentax K-x
PentaxK-x
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
2
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
2
0
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
2
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
2
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
2
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
0
2
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

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%
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $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

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $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
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm 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 Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 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 D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 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
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly 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 50D
Compare the D5100 vs the K-x
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the K-x

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Color depth Better color depth
Size Slightly larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 40D

Canon EOS 40D

Pro DSLR

$1,000 body only
Color depth Better color depth
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
True resolution Lower true resolution
Compare the EOS 40D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points
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

$649 body only

$540 - $579 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
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

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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