Nikon
D5100
 vs
Pentax
K-30

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

96

  
Nikon D5100

78

  
Winner

Pentax K-30

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-30

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
79.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.61x
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
 
Runner-up

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,183 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 90% 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
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 660 shots vs 410 shots
Help
 More than 60% more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 1,129 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Startup delay Less startup delay 500 ms vs 1100 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when turning on
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 80.0 vs 79.0
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 560 g vs 650 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Pentax K-30
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
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.61x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 162 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The K-30's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 50% faster continuous shooting
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Size Smaller 130x97x71 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.8" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.7x15.7mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 More than 30% faster max shutter speed
Pentax K-30 Learn more about
the Pentax K-30
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
78 vs 96
Explain scores
Pentax K-30 Pentax K-30
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-30.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D5100:1,183 ISO
K-30:1,129 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
K-30:79.0
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
K-30:APS-C 23.7x15.7mm
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
D5100:$496.95
K-30:$497.99
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
16.1 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the K-30
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
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 D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-30
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Focus points Has much more focus points
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Compare the D5200 vs the K-30
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the K-30
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the K-30
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Compare the D90 vs the K-30
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Focus points Has much more focus points
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the K-30

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5100.

Pentax K-30 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$692 - $699 body only

$828 - $829 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Supports 24p No 24p support
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the K-5 vs the K-30
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$767 - $997 body only

$1,113 - $1,547 with 18-135mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Much longer battery life
Supports 24p No 24p support
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-30

appearance

Nikon D5100 Pentax K-30
Nikon D5100 Pentax K-30
Nikon D5100 Pentax K-30

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Avatar for Cata Cata (7:32 PM, February 26, 2013)
Pentax is a small name, in Europe, but with k 30 and k 5, they will make history. I choose Pentax.