Updated (February, 2013): Compare the Nikon D7100 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Pentax K-5
Winner
Pentax K-5

97

vs
Nikon D7000

90

Nikon D7000
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 25fps
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D7000

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D7000
Focus points Many more focus points 39 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 90% more lenses available
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 1050 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 More than 40% more shots per battery charge
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.60x
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D7000 Learn more about
the Nikon D7000

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 238 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 51,200 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The K-5's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Size Significantly smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 132x105x77 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 82.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The K-5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Lowest price Cheaper $669.00 vs $896.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $228 cheaper (around 30% less)
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.7mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 740 g vs 780 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D7000 Nikon D7000
90 vs 97
Explain scores
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-5.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D7000:1,167 ISO
K-5:1,162 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D7000:80.0
K-5:82.0
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D7000:13.9 EV
K-5:14.1 EV
Weather sealed Both are weather sealed, which is fairly uncommon among similar cameras Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Color depth Good color depth Help
D7000:23.5 bits
K-5:23.7 bits
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
9
Battery life Great battery life Help
D7000:1050 shots
K-5:740 shots
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D7000:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Fastest shutter speed Very fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D7000:780 g
K-5:740 g
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D7000:Contrast detection
K-5:None
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
16.1 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7100 vs the D7000
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5200 vs the D7000
Compare the D5200 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D7000
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,299 - $1,725 body only

$1,499 with 28-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Cross type focus points Has much more cross-type focus points
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D7000
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$739 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D7000
Compare the D90 vs the K-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D7000
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$479 - $690 body only

$547 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the K-30 vs the D7000
Compare the K-30 vs the K-5

Nikon D7000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D7000.

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Pentax K-5.

appearance

Nikon D7000 Pentax K-5
Nikon D7000 Pentax K-5
Nikon D7000 Pentax K-5

discussion

Showing 25 comments

Deither Silip (3:59 AM, May 09, 2013)
I'm a D7000 user and my decision to get it was based on several things:

1. D7000 is a very good camera, which has all the features I need as a beginner photographer. Features/specs wise this is what I decided would be best at the price point I can handle.

2. Availability of Nikon gear and it's price vs competitors Canon and Pentax. There are very few retailers of Pentax here. The SRP of the K5 is actually cheaper than the D7000 but there are just so much more stores that carry the Nikon that I can get the D7000 a lot (about 35%) cheaper than the K5 for a gray market unit, and cheaper than Canon's 60D and 7D too. Pentax lenses are a lot more expensive here than Nikon and Canon as well.
3. I've heard good reviews about the K-5, and it may be true that pound-for-pound the k-5 wins over the D7000 (weather sealing, good prime lenses, handling, IQ, etc.), but it's to be expected as it's the top of the line DSLR for Pentax. If you'd want to grow there's going to be a big jump to medium format. You'd have to get new gear again (like MF lenses, etc.). What about full frame?
4. Support for Nikon gear.
5. Better flash system.
6. Wide range of available 3rd party gear. The more the better.

I've read a lot of Pentax loyalists here. And I can see they are very happy with their gear. If you already have Pentax gear and are looking into getting a top of the line APS-C camera, then K-5 is for you. If you're starting from scratch and want to go for the K-5, then you couldn't go wrong with it. But if you can relate to the reasons I listed, then the D7000 may be the one for you. You wouldn't regret it too.
 
Volcan357 (4:07 AM, April 25, 2012)
I think the most important difference between Pentax and Nikon is image stabilization which Pentax has built into the camera. Nikon has lots of nice lenses that don't have VR which makes the difference between having to set up a tripod or not. Certainly tripods have their place but their are lots of situations where you don't have time to set up a tripod. Anyhow with Pentax you get the advantage of image stabilization with any lens which is a very nice advantage. Another feature with Pentax is the availability of the older A series manual focus lenses which give you an electronic connection to the camera for metering plus image stabilization with the only disadvantage being the lack of AF. No such lenses are available for Nikon. These lenses give you a lot of features minus AF for a great price. 
 
Spnny1 (4:49 PM, April 22, 2012)
The Pentax K-7 and K-5 bodies are built like tanks.  There are no more rugged D-SLRs to be found by any other maker.  They are wonderous feeling in hand, sturdy, well-balanced despite their weight.  Interval timing is essential to me and K-7 ans K-5 do not limit my timing to specific set times (5, 30, 60 sec) as the Nikon D-7000 does.  I can select any time interval from 1 second up to 24 hours.  The K-7 will take 99 interval shots and the K-5 takes 999 interval shots.  With my Canon T3i I have to use software and a computer/laptop to do interval timing.  The k-5 and K-7 are ready to do any interval timing anywhere at any time, no computer needed, and both are FULLY weather-sealed to be able to do the job, anytime, anywhere, and any weather.  Both will shoot continuously until the SD card is full with the remote control trigger, which means a person can set the camera up so they can sit with their won't sit still children and/or pets and get some great pictures.  I use this feature all the time.  I read the operating manuals for every DSLR on the market and there are no other DSLRs that offer this feature set.  As for 90 versus 180 lenses.  Whoever can afford to buy all the lenses in a line?  One only needs a basic number of lenses.  With Pentax I can use any lens, save money buying used lenses.  With Nikon and Canon I have to use their currently available lenses.  To me Nikon and Canon are a dime a dozen; cheaply made production line cranked out cameras and accessories.  Pentax is quality right down to how the lenses feel in your hand when zooming, the thorough printed manuals, and even the little cover that Pentax includes to cover the hotshoe on all their cameras.  My Canon T3i looks naked to me.  The Pentax WG-1 is one rugged little camera too.  You must not have ever used any of the weather sealed Pentax cameras given your erroneous comments about their quality.
 
tantan (10:57 PM, April 12, 2012)
ill buy a k5, knowing they are better,,,, doesn't matter what others know.
 
swnabi (10:14 PM, March 28, 2012)
thank u for late reply.
 
cameras price comparison uk (6:55 AM, March 26, 2012)
 Pentax k-5 is the best option.picture quality of camera is very good.higher ISO.
 
Mrpeck81 (1:10 AM, March 17, 2012)
dont  even bother with the d51000 doesnt come close to the k5
 
Mrpeck81 (1:06 AM, March 17, 2012)
what len's are you using?
 
Mrpeck81 (0:42 PM, March 16, 2012)
hi i own a pentax kr with several different len's and  im looking to up grade to either the k5 or the nikon d7000. its pretty obvious the k5 takes better photos but the  problem is i want to up grade to full frame eventually ,thats why im considering the d7000 over  the k5 because i can upgrade to full frame easier eg d7000-d800 does anyone know if pentax are bringing out a full frame camera in the same class as d800 anytime soon?
 
Anonymous (7:52 PM, March 02, 2012)
I got a pentax K-5 more than a year ago. More than 80% of my activity is live music photography, and pentax K-5 is really BAD for this. I regret i can't change because i don't have the money for re buy lenses
The autofocus of the K-5 is very inaccurate indoor with low lights, nothing more to say.
 
Jok (11:39 AM, March 01, 2012)
K-5 has awful AF it can't hit a thing in low light
 
Brianlclark2 (0:00 AM, February 25, 2012)
I know its hard for you nikon boys 2get your headsaround it but the k5 is by far far far a better camra than the lightweight d7000! it compares better with the 700 or7d. build q- i.q and sensor q is diffrent leag! hondas bigger than ducati.and ford bigger than audi but i know what id prefer!
 
Avatar for Robertbgillies Robertbgillies (2:03 AM, February 23, 2012)
It appears that the K-5 is the winner except that with Nikon you have a much bigger selection of lenses. Third party lens manufacturers don't make near as many lenses with a Pentax mount as they do for a Canon or Nikon mount. The Tokina F2.8 100mm macro is not available for example in the Pentax mount. The fact is that there are many current lenses made by Sigma. Tamron or Tokina that are not available in the Pentax mount. Actually more lenses are available in the Sony-Minolta mount than in the Pentax mount.  Maybe Pentax needs to get together with Sony and have a common mount so they can compete better with Canon and Nikon. The mount problem is a serious drawback to the availability of lenses in general. There doesn't seem to be any good adapters available that permit the adapted lens to work with all of it's functions. The thing is that the Pentax K-5 would be much more appealing if you could use Nikon or Canon lenses with all their functions working. I have the D7000 and of course Nikon lenses. It annoys me that Nikon doesn't make a camera body with built-in VR. There are lots of Nikon lenses around that would benefit from such a camera body. Maybe the VR built into the lenses is better but if it was built into the camera body it would be better than having no VR at all which is the case with many Nikon lenses. In any case some kind of standardization of lens mounts would help the smaller camera companies like Pentax.
 
Avatar for Leonard Washington Leonard Washington (7:26 PM, February 19, 2012)
I shot with all major camera brands. I owned 2 full frame digital bodies in the past years. Pentax K-5 is a great APS-C sensor camera as it is much smaller and compact compared to the competition. Weather seals, and magnesium body construction are on the higher grade than 60d or D7000. 
 
Brujo (8:04 AM, January 25, 2012)
Video AF sucks, ask a pro, they never use AF on pro cams. A friend of mine who works as a cameraman for a national tv station (for 8 years now) told me they always use manual focus. I asked him why. Answer was: i'll focus wherever i want, not where my camera wants; if i do a live on the street i want my focus stay where it is, not jump on a shiny car window that happens to pass by. I guess he might be right. Btw, check out those great award winning movies filmed 60 years ago, when AF was not there even for still cameras. 
 
Nevromotion (0:21 AM, January 18, 2012)
nikon is the winner, maybe cuz NIKON sound better than PENTAX when you "spell it" ... or people like the red little thing under the wheel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Arn (6:37 PM, January 16, 2012)
You think bad.
K5's AF is excellent, nothing to complaint about. (read the comment above).
Better lenses  ? Have you heard about the limited serie ? Read this article from Luminous Lanscape : "The Best (Autofocus) Lenses Money Can Buy" http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-02-05-02.shtml : "...the Pentax SMC-FA 31mm Limited one of the
greatest prime lenses it had ever tested..."
Shake reduction, again, works perfectly fine. And YES, having the possibility to win 2-3 stop with the SR is really useful, even with short focals.
You're just like the masses who buy Nikon & Canon ; you don't know what you are talking about, and, i'm pretty sure you've never try a K5.
 
wahid (2:21 PM, January 12, 2012)
Philip is rigt. if vdo is ok then colour depth,dynamic range,image quality go to hell. The f..king vedio shoter why don't buy vedio handycam or iphone 4/sony experia instead of a DSLR?
 
Avatar for Mary Joy Llenas Mary Joy Llenas (2:20 AM, January 09, 2012)
yup thats true but idont care about the video like taking photo so help me i buy pentax k5 or nikon d7000 i'm very confused.
 
Erf (11:28 AM, December 29, 2011)
I think*
 
Avatar for LittleRayovSun LittleRayovSun (3:24 AM, December 20, 2011)
Hahahahahah! Nice.
 
Erf (2:50 PM, December 10, 2011)
I thing that the K5 has more shutter lag... The Pentax are generally slower... The shutter lag of the D7000 is more like 80ms. There's a video on youtube comparing shutter lag of D700, 5D mkII, 7D and D7000 and the D7000 is in second position after the D700...
The autofocus performance is also really important, I think the K5 would be a great camera with a decent AF...
And don't forget available lenses, or the possibility to switch to a full frame camera.
I was Pentax, but I wanted better lenses and a full frame sensor...
Please, stop with the built-in shake reduction... Under 50mm lenses it is really useless, and above lens stabilization is very more efficient... I was afraid by the absence of sensor stabilization, but in fact... it is useless...
 
Lukelbd (3:58 AM, December 08, 2011)
Looks like you guys finally updated the score! Pentax is now tied I see. Good, in your score evaluation the only reason nikon scored equal to the pentax previously was its popularity.

It seems to me that pentax has many small advantages and three big ones -- less shutter lag, hdr processing (granted this could be done in post), and image stabilization -- while nikon's big three advantages are contrast detection for video and live view autofocus, more focus points (though 11 seems plenty to me), and better battery life. Availability of 24p recording seems like a small advantage, much like 7fps vs. 6fps burst mode or higher iso.

I think a tie is an appropriate consensus.
 
Private_82001 (4:12 AM, December 07, 2011)
again popularity contest. 
 
Private_82001 (4:12 AM, December 07, 2011)
 put it this way. You use a truck for your everyday use to work on the field. You use a humvee to go to places your truck can't reach. Thats a Pentax.