Nikon
D3
 vs
Pentax
K-5

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

Nikon D3

86
Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Pentax K-5

78
Runner-up

Pentax K-5
"The rear control dial is well-placed too - easy to reach with the thumb of your right hand, but not directly underneath the thumbgrip, where it might get rotated by accident."
dpreview.com | talking about the K-5's feel
"One of the best APS-C DSLRs in terms of high ISO image quality"
dpreview.com | talking about the K-5's iso-noise

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
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
104 ms shutter lag

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 1,162 ISO
Help
 The D3 has a slight edge (1 f-stop) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 Around 6x more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.60x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Lens availability More lenses available 121 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
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
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 88 ms vs 104 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 25fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Size Much smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 2.4x smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
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 Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Much lighter 740 g vs 1,300 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 82.0 vs 81.0
Help
 Almost the same
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
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
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
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3 Nikon D3
86 vs 78
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3. 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.

advice

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1
votes
by motoservo last month
Pentax K-5 vs Nikon D3

I'd say the pros on the K-5 are much more important than the pros on the D3. And the fact that t...

One person recommends the Pentax K-5:

" The K-5 has better dynamic range, which is nice for outdoors shooting. And if you're shooting d..."
1
votes
by Michele-McCormick last month
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I'm intermediate, aspiring to do editorial photography. I shoot travel, portraits, dogs in competi...

2 people recommend the Nikon D800:

"Image quality, low light... definitely go D800. You know I've shot Canon for years but a few of yo..."

"The D800 is better is almost every regard (notably, better low light performance and less shutter ..."
1
votes
by Wesley-Egan last month
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I'm a beginner photographer and have been told by quite a few people  (that know about photograp...
0
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by Jos-Ab-lio-Perez this month
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I´m looking for some combination of body/lenses with the following characteristics: - not ver...
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by insleep last month
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Me; A little beyond beginner. Need to learn a lot more with manual adjustments . Achievemen...

One person recommends the Sony SLT A77:

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3:81.0
K-5:82.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3:23.5 bits
K-5:23.7 bits
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
D3:88 ms
K-5:104 ms
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
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
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

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D3
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D3
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Size Is slightly larger
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the K-5
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Size Is slightly larger
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D700 vs the D3
Compare the D700 vs the K-5
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the D3
Compare the D800 vs the K-5
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D3
Compare the D90 vs the K-5

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3S vs the D3
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D4 vs the D3

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Weight Lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the K-30 vs the K-5
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-5

appearance

Nikon D3 Pentax K-5
Nikon D3 Pentax K-5
Nikon D3 Pentax K-5

discussion

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