Nikon
D5100
 vs
Pentax
K-5

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5

100

  
Nikon D5100

76

  
Winner

Pentax K-5

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
82.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
 
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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Weight Significantly lighter 560 g vs 740 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $496.95 vs $691.90
Help
 The best price we've seen is $195 cheaper (around 30% less)
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 500 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when turning on
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
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 273 ms
Help
 2.6x less delay when taking photos
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.60x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 80% faster continuous shooting
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 51,200 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The K-5's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 13 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 82.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Almost the same
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
Battery life Longer battery life 740 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Size Smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.7mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
76 vs 100
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-5.

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-5:1,162 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D5100:80.0
K-5:82.0
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D5100:Contrast detection
K-5:None
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-5
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-5
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-5
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-5
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$672 - $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-5
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-5
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$768 - $997 body only

$1,115 - $1,547 with 18-135mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Longer battery life
Lowest price More expensive
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5

appearance

Nikon D5100 Pentax K-5
Nikon D5100 Pentax K-5
Nikon D5100 Pentax K-5

discussion

Showing 6 comments

anonymous (5:31 PM, August 25, 2012)
please remove the popularity point on each of comparison. we buy camera for the image quality, not the popularity. if it needed, you can put it as additional information
 
enterco (6:05 AM, June 21, 2012)
D5100 can't be compared with K-5, they only share image quality. On the ergonomics side, the K-5 is a winner by far. What about the D5100 which can't use 'D' lenses without manual focus? K-5 can shoot with high speed sync, can control multiple flashes, can be operated with one hand, etc.
 
Chicago painter (7:28 PM, November 13, 2011)
What is the point to compare cameras for $700 and $1200. It's like to compare BMW 5 and Chevy Malibu. 30G vs 60G.....
I agree with Sdick. If you spend 700 for body you won't spend 30 000 for all available lenses. 
 
Sdick (11:21 AM, October 18, 2011)
K-5 wins in almost any category--except for popularity, # of lenses (how many do I need?) and some of the video convenience features.  I'm probably not like most here, but I'm interested in a DSLR for taking great still pictures.  I won't need it to connect to the internet, do FB, make cel phone calls or play 3D video games.  And if I'm going to do anything more than "dabble" in videography, I'll get a good video camera--to which there aren't any DSLR's at any price that compare.  

I also find the bias and skew of this site  to be kind of cheap.  Brand "X" might have 50 gazillion lenses, and "Y" has only 30.  I only need/want 3, so am I really disadvantaged to choose those three lenses from 30?  "X" is more popular--save it for the MA pageant.  I think both these cams are great pieces of engineering and very capable for producing excellent photos.  The K-5 wins hands-down for durability, backwards compatibility of lenses, and slightly less-hands-down on some of the issues that will affect image quality.  It admittedly does lose out as a pinch-hitter of a video camera--though both of these are pinch-hitters in this category in my opinion.  And the K-5 price is a bit higher--that generally doesn't stop the serious photog who makes a living.  I just wish Pentax would have left off some of the bells-n-whistles they stuck into this one.  Shame on ALL the brands for some of the bandwagons they jump on.  Toy camera?  Miniature effect? How serious do you take yourselves?  And why do you look for/want/need some of these worthless gadgets on a serious machine?  Buy the toy camera for $6 on e-bay and get the "real" effect.  Give me a great lens or two, durability, good metering, PASM and excellent picture quality.  Affordability would also be nice.  I don't need much else.  The Sigma SD-1 just about knocked it out of the park in my books--until I saw the price.
 
Avatar for JeanMarcDufourq JeanMarcDufourq (5:27 AM, August 02, 2011)
I agree. This entire site sways towards Nikon; that, or there comparison algorithm does not work correctly.
 
eikit nahuj (8:25 PM, July 29, 2011)
and again.. Entry level Nikon is as good as semi pro pentax. Come on,stop this BS. Just tell you are Nikon fans and thats it. Or go ant compare Nikon D40 against K-5 and write that D40 is much better camera, that would be no surprise because all you can write is just how nikon is good and how pentax is awful