Nikon
D5100
 vs
Pentax
K-x

Nikon D5100

76
Winner

Nikon D5100
"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

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
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Pentax K-x

70
Runner-up

Pentax K-x
"The camera has a deep, contoured handgrip on the right-hand side, coated in a rubberized compound to aid grip, that enabled me to use three fingers to hold it and my right forefinger to operate the shutter button."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's feel
"Noise is well controlled by the Pentax K-x, starting to appear at ISO 1600 and becoming more easily detectable at the faster settings of ISO 3200 and 6400."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
97 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
9

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 811 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 72.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 90% more lenses available
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Battery life Longer battery life 660 shots vs 420 shots
Help
 Around 60% more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12.5 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 500 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when turning on
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $674.92
Help
 The best price we've seen is $175 cheaper (around 30% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 560 g vs 580 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 97 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 2.8x less delay when taking photos
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.56x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 20% larger viewfinder
Size Significantly smaller 123x92x68 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.7" vs 3.1"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4.7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm 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-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
76 vs 70
Explain scores
Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D5100:13 EV
K-x:12.5 EV
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 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-x
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 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-x
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 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-x
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
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-x
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Compare the D7000 vs the K-x
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the K-x
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-x

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Pentax K-x.

appearance

Nikon D5100 Pentax K-x
Nikon D5100 Pentax K-x
Nikon D5100 Pentax K-x

discussion

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