Canon EOS
60D
 vs
Pentax
K-5

Updated (March, 2013): Compare the Canon EOS 70D vs Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5

73

  
Canon EOS 60D

56

  
Winner

Pentax K-5

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
82.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 60D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 60D

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Battery life
 Great battery life
1100 shots
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 60D
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 80% more lenses available
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Battery life Longer battery life 1100 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 Around 50% more shots per battery charge
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 60D Learn more about
the Canon 60D

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 82.0 vs 66.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 2.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO vs 813 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 253 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The K-5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 5.3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 145x106x79 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 51,200 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The K-5's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.60x vs 0.59x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.7mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 60D Canon EOS 60D
56 vs 73
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-5. 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
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Focus points Few focus points Help
60D:9
K-5:11
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
60D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 60D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the EOS 60D
Compare the Rebel T4i 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
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 60D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D90 vs the K-5

Canon EOS 60D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 700D/T5i

Canon Rebel T5i

Entry-level DSLR

$749 - $905 body only

$899 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the Rebel T5i vs the EOS 60D

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 60D Pentax K-5
Canon EOS 60D Pentax K-5
Canon EOS 60D Pentax K-5

discussion

Showing 6 comments

Beginerd (4:14 AM, January 26, 2013)
from rough comparison we can easily see that pentax k-5 overcome dslr that's even twice its price...the only flaw i see in it is just that it doesn't have flip out screen and a bit low true resolution...even so, it still outscored its low pixel count in their formats in DxO's raw performance ratings at low iso...don't judge a dslr by its popularity...
 
Sdick (8:04 AM, March 26, 2012)
I can easily understand (though I don't personally value) each of the criteria these comparisons are based on--EXCEPT FOR "Popularity."  I can even understand tracking or mentioning the difference in popularity, but giving it a subjective value?  That to me, sounds like a prejudicial endorsement.  As you can tell from the comments, there's so much more that goes into the comparison in real-life, and purchase of a camera than even features, image quality and convenience--how about how it feels to the individual, or existing photographic equipment--that doesn't have a good way of making it into the comparisons.  But "Popularity?"  I do not understand that one.  How about reliability based on an equation involving units sold and warranty repairs effected?  That could be helpful--MAYBE.
 
Lemurian Samurai (11:45 AM, February 06, 2012)
Pentax isn't as aggressively marketed, most people are too concerned with what's around their neck (brand) than what the actual camera can do.  Yes Canon does have a far more extensive range of lenses and more market clout in terms of re-sale but 60D vs. Pentax K-5.... give me the Pentax
 
VHZ (9:54 AM, February 06, 2012)
Don't be surprised. Pentax 5 is a professional product whereas 60D is for entry or half professional.
There is no argue that Pentax is better in this test. I'm the one who was going for 60D and probably will do so, because I'mnt a professional and need easy camera for holidays.
 
Flo. (0:10 PM, December 27, 2011)
 @93f18b882dec8f82602d21cd17473b58:disqus ...go for the canon ! if you want an easy handling and fun at taking pictures, the canon ist the right!
it says the pentax has better stats but thats not all! the sensor of the canon is far better. 
also you can see if you look around, muuch more people have canon than pentax. (ive never seen someone who has a pentax)
 
Twcull (10:45 PM, December 07, 2011)
It surprises me that Canon fails to stack up against the Pentax. I'm stuck between the two, video isn't important to me. Surely there must be a reason why the Pentax isn't so widely available.