Nikon
D3S
 vs
Pentax
K-5

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

Nikon D3S

91
Winner

Nikon D3S
"The D3's proportions make it almost square, and thanks to a magnesium shell it is literally as solid as a brick."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
Battery life
 Great battery life
4400 shots
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

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
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 130x96x72 mm

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3S
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 1,162 ISO
Help
 The D3S has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the K-5
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 Around 6x more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x23.9mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 51,200 ISO
Help
 The D3S's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
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 EV
Help
 2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 25fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Size Much smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 2.4x smaller
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 104 ms vs 197 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 740 g vs 1,240 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $888.00 vs $5,196.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,309 cheaper (5.9x less)
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
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
91 vs 78
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S. 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

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Nikon D3S or the Pentax K-5,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
82.0
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3S:23.5 bits
K-5:23.7 bits
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
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
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D3S
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D3S
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the D3S
Compare the D800 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
Size Is slightly larger
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3S
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
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3S
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 D3S
Compare the D700 vs the K-5
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the SLT A77 vs the D3S
Compare the SLT A77 vs the K-5

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the D4 vs the D3S
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D3S
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the D3 vs the D3S

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 D3S Pentax K-5
Nikon D3S Pentax K-5
Nikon D3S Pentax K-5

discussion

Showing 2 comments

FullFramer (7:42 AM, December 14, 2011)
Are you so insecure about your purchase choice? Read the disclaimer by Snapsort and if you think the voters are absurd what about your weapon comparison, how absurd is that? Most modern day DSLRs are superb technologically and the differences are fewer than the similarities in terms of delivering high quality images.
 
Alton Andrew (8:45 PM, July 16, 2011)
OMG ROTFL!! absurd user votes. The Pentax K-5 beats the D3S HAHAHAHA. Comparing the K-5 to the D3S for sports is like comparing a Somali pirate armed with an AK47 to a Nimitz Aircraft Carrier. The is are big reasons all pro sports photogs use D3S - unbeatable autofocus, unlimited buffer, 9FPS in RAW all day long, shoot in the dark ISO, that would make the image of the K-5 look like a water color painted on felt. The fact of the matter is this. The Pentax will not even be able to focus on the sports in low light, let alone take a sharp balanced shot.