Nikon
D5000
 vs
Pentax
K-x

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x

Pentax K-x

71
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 12.4 megapixel JPEG images were a little soft straight out of the camera at the default sharpening setting"
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
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
"Very impressive high ISO performance"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's iso-noise
"Standard slr build quailty"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos

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
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.56x vs 0.51x
Help
 Around 20% larger viewfinder
Size Significantly smaller 123x92x68 mm vs 127x104x80 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
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
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.7" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
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
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 D5000 Nikon D5000
48 vs 71
Explain scores
Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-x.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD5000
 Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-x
PentaxK-x
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
14
21
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
11
20
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
11
22
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
12
19
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
13
18
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
12
20
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
14
20
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

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
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D5000:3,200 ISO
K-x:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 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 - $984 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

$499 - $949 body only

$569 - $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
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$649 body only

$523 - $579 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Screen resolution Has a significantly 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 D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$849 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm 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
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$459 - $750 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 D5000
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the K-x
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$624 - $800 body only

$869 - $1,100 with 18-135mm 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

$1,029 - $1,500 body only

$1,349 - $1,650 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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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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?