Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 7D vs Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5
Winner
Pentax K-5

74

vs
Canon EOS 7D

67

Canon EOS 7D
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

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
 

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 7D

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
8 fps
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
19
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon 7D
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
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 19 vs 9
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Focus points More focus points 19 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 8 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.60x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 800 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Canon EOS 7D Learn more about
the Canon 7D

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 11.7 EV
Help
 2.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.7 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 854 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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
Size Smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 148x111x74 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 104 ms vs 131 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
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
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.7mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Weight Lighter 740 g vs 860 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 2.9"
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $669.00 vs $1,299.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $630 cheaper (around 50% less)
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 7D
67 vs 74
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
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
7D:131 ms
K-5:104 ms
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
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
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
7D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,899 - $1,917 body only

$2,399 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
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 7D
Compare the EOS 6D 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 7D
Compare the D7000 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 significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 7D
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,299 body only

$3,800 - $3,899 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 7D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the K-5
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$740 - $899 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the EOS 7D
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the K-5

Canon EOS 7D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 7D.

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$468 - $690 body only

$546 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Weight Lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the K-30 vs the K-5
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$767 - $997 body only

$933 - $1,247 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5

appearance

Canon EOS 7D Pentax K-5
Canon EOS 7D Pentax K-5
Canon EOS 7D Pentax K-5

discussion

Showing 10 comments

arn (5:53 PM, January 16, 2012)
This is true, i think than build quality are comparable, as WR protection.
 
Matt (2:29 PM, December 31, 2011)
Both superb cameras, though not sure how in a month of Sundays, A K5 and a D7000 can be classed as 'Entry Level' Cameras. Surely all 3 of them are in the same bracket....at least midrange?
 
Avatar for Glenn Pearson Glenn Pearson (6:04 PM, December 09, 2011)
The 7D is weather sealed as well. Why is it listed as not being weather sealed?
 
Gander360 (5:19 PM, October 29, 2011)
Just for grins and giggles, look at the "advantages of a Pentax K-5" at the bottom where it talks about the thickness:

     Slightly thinner
     2.9" 
vs
  2.9"      

Almost the same2.9 vs 2.9 is ALMOST the same???
 
Avatar for JeanMarcDufourq JeanMarcDufourq (5:19 AM, August 02, 2011)
"Why did Pentax released K-5 at 25fps? Here in North America we are NTSC which is 24fps." Maybe because the US is not the only country in the world? Here in Australia we have PAL broadcasts so I like Pentax's 25p.
 
Inakibees (3:42 PM, April 25, 2011)
Pentax K5 AF perfomance in speed and accuracy has improved a lot and almost comparable to canon's 7D per actual account by practical usage. Plus a lot of features like high -ISO and backward compatibilty with 25 million pentax lenses.

though the Nikon D7000 AF system tops them all :D
 
RobertR (5:19 AM, April 07, 2011)
I'm not too concerned about image quality at high ISO, i just want a little bit more... flexibility than what i have right now. ISO 100 to 1600 is a bit limiting. I like to bump it up to make sure i can shoot at a fast enough shutter speed in certain situations without having to worry about blur from camera shake.

And i've already looked into a full frame camera and have decided not to go that path, i don't necessarily need to spend that much on a camera for what i'll be using it for. Not to mention the Sigma lens i purchased is designed only for use on APS-C sensors, and it's basically my walk around lens. Gotta love that classic 50mm look (technically 48mm, but close enough).

Unless you have another Canon camera model you could recommend to me as an upgrade from the Rebel XS, i think i'm set on getting a 7D now. Thank you for your advice.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (0:42 AM, April 07, 2011)
Hi Robert, my gut says stick with Canon, they have some pretty awesome gear, and you'd lose a bunch of money, time and experience switching - unless there is some flaw or issue with Canon gear. In the past many pros switched from Canon to Nikon for superior images at high ISO, but now that Nikon has caught up some pros have switched from Canon to Nikon for better focusing.

The K-5's image quality isn't that much better I don't think than the 7D, for example the DxOMark benchmarks show at high ISO they are very close, within 0.4 f/stops of each other.

If shooting at high ISO is really important to you (as it is to me), you might want to wait and save for a full frame camera (like the 5D Mk II or the Nikon D700), they definitely excel compared to the APS-C cameras.
 
RobertR (4:54 PM, April 06, 2011)
I'm thinking of getting one of these two cameras as an upgrade from my Canon Rebel XS, i have invested in several lenses, would it be best for me to stay with the Canon name and get the 7D, or would it be in my best interests to sell everything i own and start over with the Pentax K-5. One of the main reasons i would want the K-5 is the image stabilization and the better image quality, but with such a high continuous mode on the 7D i was thinking maybe i wouldn't even need it when i can pull off several shots in a second. I also want an upgrade from the Rebel XS's very limited ISO settings and a smarter camera in difficult lighting situations.
I own a:
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tokina 12-24mm f/4
and a Canon 430EX II Speedlight
 
HarryKemball (7:56 PM, March 05, 2011)
Pentax K-5 needs to give all the video Options that Canon's 7D has. Twenty-five frames/second is PAL.Why did Pentax released K-5 at 25fps? Here in North America we are NTSC which is 24fps. The bad joke is Japan is NTSC. Why are there no Options? Pentax needs: 23.976, 25, 29.97, 30, 50 and 60 should be included. if Pentax wants to market world-wide. I have been shooting Pentax for 46 years and I need those Options. I have investments in Pentax lenes and don't want to jump ship to Canon nor Nikon. Can't Pentax give us a computer download with these video Options? Somebody please wake up Pentax!