Nikon
D90
 vs
Pentax
K-5

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Nikon D7000 vs Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5

100

  
Nikon D90

70

  
Winner

Pentax K-5

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
82.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
 
Runner-up

Nikon D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Battery life
 Great battery life
850 shots
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D90
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 Longer battery life 850 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.60x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 703 g vs 740 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $674.95 vs $704.01
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 25fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 73.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO vs 977 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The K-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 51,200 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The K-5's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 12.5 EV
Help
 1.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 2x less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
 Around 60% faster continuous shooting
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Size Significantly smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
 Almost the same
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D90 Nikon D90
70 vs 100
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
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D90:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Battery life Great battery life Help
D90:850 shots
K-5:740 shots
Weight Heavy Help
D90:703 g
K-5:740 g
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
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D90:12.2 MP
K-5:16.1 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 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 D90
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Compare the D3200 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 D90
Compare the D5200 vs the K-5
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 D90
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$518 - $690 body only

$554 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the K-30 vs the D90
Compare the K-30 vs the K-5

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3100 vs the D90

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$768 - $997 body only

$1,115 - $1,547 with 18-135mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Lowest price More expensive
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5

appearance

Nikon D90 Pentax K-5
Nikon D90 Pentax K-5
Nikon D90 Pentax K-5

discussion

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