Nikon
D4
 vs
Pentax
K-5

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Pentax K-5 II

Nikon D4

86

  
Pentax K-5

72

  
Winner

Nikon D4

Reasons to buy the Nikon D4

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,965 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
89.0
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
11 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 
Runner-up

Pentax K-5

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
104 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 130x96x72 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D4
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO vs 1,162 ISO
Help
 The D4 has excellent image quality 1.4 f-stops higher ISO than the K-5
Battery life Much longer battery life 2600 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 More than 3.5x more shots per battery charge
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Better image quality 89.0 vs 82.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.60x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 11 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 Around 60% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 204,800 ISO vs 51,200 ISO
Help
 The D4's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Lens availability More lenses available 121 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 9
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Nikon D4 Learn more about
the Nikon D4

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Much smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 160x157x91 mm
Help
 2.5x smaller
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 2x less delay when taking photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 13.1 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.6"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Weight Much lighter 740 g vs 1,340 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $691.90 vs $5,996.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $5,305 cheaper (8.7x less)
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D4 Nikon D4
86 vs 72
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D4. 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
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D4:13.1 EV
K-5:14.1 EV
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D4:15.9 MP
K-5:16.1 MP
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D4:Contrast detection
K-5:None
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
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D7000 vs the D4
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D4
Compare the D600 vs the K-5
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D7100 vs the D4
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D4
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the K-5
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D4
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D4
Compare the D5100 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
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D4
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the K-5

Nikon D4 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 1D X

Canon EOS 1D X

Pro DSLR

$6,799 body only
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D4
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the D800 vs the D4
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR
Battery life Much longer battery life
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the D3S vs the D4
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$6,699 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D4

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$508 - $690 body only

$559 - $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

$768 - $997 body only

$1,115 - $1,547 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5

appearance

Nikon D4 Pentax K-5
Nikon D4 Pentax K-5
Nikon D4 Pentax K-5

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