Nikon
D5000
 vs
Pentax
K-x

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 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

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
97 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
9
Nikon D5000

48
Runner-up

Nikon D5000
"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 90% more lenses available
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 811 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Battery life Longer battery life 510 shots vs 420 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 97 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 2.8x 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
Size Much smaller 123x92x68 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.56x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 20% larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The K-x's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.7" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4.7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The K-x's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
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
Lowest price Cheaper $674.92 vs $879.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $205 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Pentax K-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
48 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
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
12.5 EV
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
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
D5000:3,200 ISO
K-x:6,400 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 D5000
Compare the D5100 vs the K-x
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
Compare the D3100 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 size Has a much larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5000
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 size Has a much larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D5000
Compare the D90 vs the K-x
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$631 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the K-r vs the D5000
Compare the K-r vs the K-x
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the D5000
Compare the D7000 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 size Has a much larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5000
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-x

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5000.

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 D5000 Pentax K-x
Nikon D5000 Pentax K-x
Nikon D5000 Pentax K-x

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Crikael (2:40 PM, March 29, 2011)
The Pentax K-x will not show the autofocus points in the viewfinder. I believe the Nikon D5000 will.
 
bansheedriver (11:06 PM, March 20, 2011)
What about highlighting active focus points?