Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Pentax K-5 II vs Pentax K-7

Pentax K-5
Winner
Pentax K-5

97

vs
Pentax K-7

63

Pentax K-7
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

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
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
 

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-7

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
93 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 131x97x73 mm
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO vs 536 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the K-7
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 25fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Overall image quality Much better image quality 82.0 vs 61.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
 3.5 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.1 more bits of color
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 5.2 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Much cheaper $669.00 vs $1,318.70
Help
 The best price we've seen is $650 cheaper (around 50% less)
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 14.5 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.7mm vs APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Size Slightly smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 131x97x73 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Slightly thinner 2.9" vs 2.9"
Help
 Almost the same
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5

Advantages of the Pentax K-7
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 93 ms vs 104 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Pentax K-7 Learn more about
the Pentax K-7
vs

recommendations

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

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
97 vs 63
Explain scores
Pentax K-7 Pentax K-7
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-5.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Both are weather sealed, which is fairly uncommon among similar cameras Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Shutter lag Incredible shutter lag Help
K-5:104 ms
K-7:93 ms
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
9
Battery life Great battery life Help
740 shots
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Size Fairly small Help
K-5:130x96x72 mm
K-7:131x97x73 mm
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Fastest shutter speed Very fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
K-5:740 g
K-7:750 g
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
90 lenses
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
K-5:16.1 MP
K-7:14.5 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $690 body only

$547 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the K-30 vs the K-5
Compare the K-30 vs the K-7
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$767 - $997 body only

$933 - $1,247 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-7
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Compare the D7000 vs the K-7
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 K-5
Compare the D7100 vs the K-7
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
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-7
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
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-7
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 K-5
Compare the D5200 vs the K-7

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Pentax K-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K20D

Pentax K20D

Entry-level DSLR

$1,069 body only
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the K20D vs the K-7

appearance

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-7
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-7
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-7

discussion

Showing 4 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (4:01 AM, November 30, 2010)
Pentax seems to make downloading their user manuals difficult :) I did managed to download the Pentax K-X user manual, and I'm sure the lens compatibility of the K-5 and K-7 would be the same.

According to the manual:
- the K-x will autofocus with Kaf, Kaf2 and Kaf3 (DA, DA L, D FA) lenses, Kaf (F*6), and K (M, P). but not Ka (A) lenses.
- It will do 5 and 11 point AF with Kaf, Kaf2 and Kaf3 (DA, DA L, D FA) lenses, Kaf (F*6), but not K (M, P) or Ka (A) lenses.

So I think you just have to check for the letters in the len's name, for example newer lenses have "DA" in the name.
 
Ackbclark (1:47 AM, November 30, 2010)
This may sound amature, which it is, but does the auto focus work with the older lens? Do you have to purchase the new lens' to get the AF on either of these cameras?
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:15 PM, November 27, 2010)
Thanks for pointing that out, we'll get that fixed up asap.
 
Socks (3:26 AM, November 14, 2010)
The K-7 and K-5 actually have the same weight of 750g with battery and 670g without.