Nikon
D3X
 vs
Pentax
K-5

Nikon D3X

80
Winner

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,992 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
88.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
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 D3X
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,992 ISO vs 1,162 ISO
Help
 The D3X has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Overall image quality Better image quality 88.0 vs 82.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 50% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.60x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Lens availability More lenses available 121 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
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
Nikon D3X Learn more about
the Nikon D3X

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The K-5's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 104 ms vs 161 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 5 fps
Help
 40% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Much thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Lowest price Much cheaper $888.00 vs $7,996.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $7,109 cheaper (9x less)
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 51,200 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Weight Significantly lighter 740 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 13.7 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
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 D3X Nikon D3X
80 vs 78
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3X. 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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Canon T3i vs Pentax K-5

Trying to make video shorts, but I enjoy taking photos just as much. Wish I could do the kill tw...

13 people recommend the Canon T3i:

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13 people recommend the Pentax K-5:

" The Pentax K-5 is an exceptional camera for stills and for video.  And the price has dropped qui..."

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" I've used Canon 1000D, 1100D, 450D, 500D and Nikon D3100 respectively. Now i m using a pentax k-..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3X:88.0
K-5:82.0
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D3X:13.7 EV
K-5:14.1 EV
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3X:24.7 bits
K-5:23.7 bits
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
D3X:161 ms
K-5:104 ms
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 D3X
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 D3X
Compare the D5100 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 slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the D3X
Compare the D800 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
Color depth Has significantly less color depth
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3X
Compare the EOS 7D 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
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Size Is slightly larger
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3X
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II 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 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 Rebel T3i vs the D3X
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-5
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the SLT A77 vs the D3X
Compare the SLT A77 vs the K-5

Nikon D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Compare the D4 vs the D3X
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D3S vs the D3X
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Pro DSLR

$5,000 - $5,930 body only
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS-1D Mark IV vs the D3X
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EOS-1Ds

Pro DSLR

$9,135 - $9,321 body only
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS-1Ds vs the D3X

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

appearance

Nikon D3X Pentax K-5
Nikon D3X Pentax K-5
Nikon D3X Pentax K-5

discussion

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