Nikon
D3000
 vs
Pentax
K-x

Updated (August, 2010): Compare the Nikon D3100 vs Pentax K-x

Pentax K-x

70
Winner

Pentax K-x
"Image stabilisation via the camera body is a great feature that works very well when hand-holding the camera in low-light conditions."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's image-stabilization
"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

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
72.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Nikon D3000

32
Runner-up

Nikon D3000
"User-friendly ergonomics, without sacrificing control"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's button-layout
"Very capable AF system, including 3D AF tracking, on a par with much more expensive DSLRs"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 90% more lenses available
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 420 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Thickness Thinner 2.5" vs 2.7"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 536 g vs 580 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $449.00 vs $674.92
Help
 The best price we've seen is $226 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 811 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The K-x has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 97 ms vs 262 ms
Help
 2.7x less delay when taking photos
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 22.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The K-x's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 60% faster continuous shooting
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.56x vs 0.52x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The K-x's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 600 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when turning on
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
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 D3000 Nikon D3000
32 vs 70
Explain scores
Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-x.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Very small Help
D3000:126x97x64 mm
K-x:123x92x68 mm
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Thickness Very thin Help
D3000:2.5"
K-x:2.7"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3000:10 MP
K-x:12.2 MP
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
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
D3000:1,600 ISO
K-x:6,400 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D3000:None
K-x:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Compare the D3100 vs the K-x
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the K-x
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
Compare the D5100 vs the K-x
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$299 - $595 body only

$437 - $439 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the D3000
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the K-x
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the K-x
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D90 vs the D3000
Compare the D90 vs the K-x
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-x

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D60

Nikon D60

Entry-level DSLR
Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the D60 vs the D3000

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$631 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the K-r vs the K-x
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger
Compare the K-5 vs the K-x

appearance

Nikon D3000 Pentax K-x
Nikon D3000 Pentax K-x
Nikon D3000 Pentax K-x

discussion

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