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

Pentax K-5 vs Canon EOS 60D

Winner
Pentax K-5

85
Canon EOS 60D

66

Runner-up

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Great image quality
Overall image quality
82.0
Great color depth
Color depth
23.7 bits
Wide dynamic range
Dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 60D

Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Battery life
 Great battery life
1100 shots
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

galleries

Explore 60 sample photos taken by the Canon EOS 60D

differences

Advantages of the Canon 60D

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Supports 24p
Supports 24p
Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Lens availability
Much more lenses available
197 lenses vs 109 lenses
Help
More than 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
Startup delay
Less startup delay
400 ms vs 600 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when turning on
True resolution
Slightly higher true resolution
17.9 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Canon EOS 60D Learn more about
the Canon 60D

Advantages of the Pentax K-5

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Dynamic range
More dynamic range
14.1 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
2.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality
Significantly better image quality
82.0 vs 66.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
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 22.2 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
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Shutter lag
Much less shutter lag
104 ms vs 253 ms
Help
2.4x less delay when taking photos
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
Continuous shooting
Shoots faster
7 fps vs 5.3 fps
Help
More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder coverage
Significantly better viewfinder coverage
100% vs 96%
Help
Almost the same
Size
Smaller
130x96x72 mm vs 145x106x79 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
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
Viewfinder size
Slightly larger viewfinder
0.60x vs 0.59x
Help
Around 10% larger viewfinder
Thickness
Significantly thinner
2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 10% thinner
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
Lowest price
Slightly cheaper
$549.00 vs $699.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $150 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends
Canon EOS 60D Canon EOS 60D 66
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      Color
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        		vs
        85 Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
        Retailer
          Style
            Color
              You save

              similarities

              Compared to recent DSLRs

              Common Strengths
              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
              Common Weaknesses
              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
              True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
              60D:17.9 MP
              K-5:16.1 MP
              Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
              60D:6,400 ISO
              K-5:12,800 ISO
              Screen size Very small screens Help
              3.0"

              dxomark

              DXOMark

              competitors

              Shared Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

              Canon EOS 70D

              Canon EOS 70D

              Pro DSLR

              $859 - $1,099 body only

              $1,330 - $1,449 with 18-135mm lens

              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
              Thickness Is thicker
              Size Is slightly larger
              Compare the EOS 70D vs the EOS 60D
              Compare the EOS 70D vs the K-5
              Canon Rebel T3i

              Canon Rebel T3i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $499 - $536 body only

              $579 - $599 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 D7000

              Nikon D7000

              Entry-level DSLR

              $645 with 18-55mm lens

              Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
              Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
              Thickness Is thicker
              Size Is slightly larger
              Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 60D
              Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
              Canon EOS 7D

              Canon EOS 7D

              Pro DSLR

              $849 - $970 body only

              $1,299 with 18-135mm lens

              Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
              Weight Is slightly heavier
              Size Is slightly larger
              Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 60D
              Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
              Nikon D5300

              Nikon D5300

              Entry-level DSLR

              $697 body only

              $797 with 18-55mm lens

              Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
              True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              Thickness Is thicker
              Compare the D5300 vs the EOS 60D
              Compare the D5300 vs the K-5
              Nikon D5200

              Nikon D5200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $547 body only

              $499 - $647 with 18-55mm lens

              True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
              Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              Thickness Is thicker
              Compare the D5200 vs the EOS 60D
              Compare the D5200 vs the K-5
              Canon EOS 6D

              Canon EOS 6D

              Pro DSLR

              $1,328 - $1,799 body only

              $2,099 - $2,199 with 24-105mm lens

              Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
              Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
              Compare the EOS 6D vs the EOS 60D
              Compare the EOS 6D vs the K-5

              Canon EOS 60D Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

              Canon Rebel T5i

              Canon Rebel T5i

              Entry-level DSLR

              $599 - $699 body only

              $620 - $750 with 18-55mm lens

              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              Color depth Worse color depth
              Overall image quality Worse image quality
              Compare the Rebel T5i vs the EOS 60D

              Pentax K-5 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

              Pentax K-3

              Pentax K-3

              Entry-level DSLR

              $841 - $1,097 body only

              $1,079 - $1,164 with 18-135mm lens

              Supports 24p Supports 24p
              Screen size Significantly larger screen
              Startup delay More startup delay
              Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
              Compare the K-3 vs the K-5
              Pentax K-50

              Pentax K-50

              Entry-level DSLR

              $337 - $367 body only

              $420 - $449 with 18-55mm lens

              Supports 24p Supports 24p
              Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
              External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
              Overall image quality Worse image quality
              Compare the K-50 vs the K-5
              Pentax K-5 II

              Pentax K-5 II

              Entry-level DSLR

              $604 body only

              $837 with 18-55mm lens

              Battery life Longer battery life
              Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
              Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5
              Pentax K-30

              Pentax K-30

              Entry-level DSLR

              $370 body only

              $439 with 18-55mm lens

              Supports 24p Supports 24p
              Weight Lighter
              External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
              Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
              Compare the K-30 vs the K-5

              appearance

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

              discussion

              Canon EOS 60D
              EOS 60D
              Canon

              Report a correction
              Pentax K-5
              K-5
              Pentax

              Report a correction

              Showing 9 comments

              THS (9:46 PM, August 04, 2013)
              Please change this snapsort. The k5 is a professional camera and is FAR better than the 60d
               
              Eon (11:30 PM, June 17, 2013)
              I had a Canon 60d, Nikon D7000 & Loved both, gave them back and got a Pentax K-5 a little apprehensive at first, but now glad i did, it really does have soul..Just because every other person owns A Canon, Nikon or Sony. they are like Ford Or GM Buy an extended warranty if it makes you feel safe. Step out be yourself, Safe is what safe is.
               
              Avatar for vhz vhz (10:19 AM, June 15, 2013)
              Bare in mind u pay for nikon and canon marketing, sponsorship etc. The same as sony some yrs ago. Where sony now?
               
              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.