Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Nikon D800 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Nikon D800
Winner
Nikon D800

88

vs
Pentax K-5

74

Pentax K-5
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,853 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
25.3 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
 

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

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
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D800
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,853 ISO vs 1,162 ISO
Help
 The D800 has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the K-5
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 95.0 vs 82.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm 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
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.60x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 25.3 bits vs 23.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Lens availability More lenses available 121 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 200 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 3x less delay when turning on
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
Battery life Longer battery life 900 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 209 ms
Help
 2x less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 80% faster continuous shooting
Size Significantly smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.2"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
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
Weight Lighter 740 g vs 1,000 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $669.00 vs $2,796.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $2,128 cheaper (4.2x less)
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D800 Nikon D800
88 vs 74
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D800. 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
D800:14.4 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
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D800: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 D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,797 with 28-300mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D800
Compare the D600 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
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Has much more cross-type focus points
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III 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 slightly higher resolution screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
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 D800
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,400 body only
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Compare the D700 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,899 - $1,917 body only

$2,399 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly higher boost light sensitivity
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 D800
Compare the EOS 6D vs the K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,405 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D800
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the K-5

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Battery life Much longer battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D4 vs the D800

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$479 - $690 body only

$547 - $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

$780 - $997 body only

$984 - $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

Nikon D800 Pentax K-5
Nikon D800 Pentax K-5
Nikon D800 Pentax K-5

discussion

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