Pentax
K-5
 vs
Pentax
K-x

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

Pentax K-5

100

  
Pentax K-x

68

  
Winner

Pentax K-5

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,162 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
82.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 25fps
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
 
Runner-up

Pentax K-x

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
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
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 123x92x68 mm
 

differences

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
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO vs 811 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 82.0 vs 72.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 740 shots vs 420 shots
Help
 Around 80% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 51,200 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The K-5's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 12.5 EV
Help
 1.6 f-stops more dynamic range
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4.7 fps
Help
 Around 50% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.60x vs 0.56x
Help
 Around 20% larger viewfinder
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/6000s
Help
 More than 20% faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $708.88 vs $752.06
Help
 The best price we've seen is $43 cheaper (around 10% less)
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Size Significantly smaller 123x92x68 mm vs 130x96x72 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 580 g vs 740 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Thickness Thinner 2.7" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
Help
 Almost the same
Pentax K-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x
vs

recommendations

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

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
100 vs 68
Explain scores
Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-5.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
K-5:104 ms
K-x:97 ms
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
9
Sensor size Large sensors Help
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
K-x:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size Fairly small Help
K-5:130x96x72 mm
K-x:123x92x68 mm
Thickness Thin Help
K-5:2.9"
K-x:2.7"
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
K-5:1/8000s
K-x:1/6000s
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
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-x:12.2 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$527 - $690 body only

$569 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the K-30 vs the K-5
Compare the K-30 vs the K-x
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-x
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$925 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the K-r vs the K-5
Compare the K-r vs the K-x
Pentax K-7

Pentax K-7

Entry-level DSLR

$1,319 body only
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the K-7 vs the K-5
Compare the K-7 vs the K-x
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,246 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-x
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 K-5
Compare the D5100 vs the K-x
Pentax K-01

Pentax K-01

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Focus points Has much more focus points
Size Is much smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the K-01 vs the K-5
Compare the K-01 vs the K-x

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
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Focus points Many more focus points
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Focus points Many more focus points
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Much larger screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the D3100 vs the K-x
Pentax K20D

Pentax K20D

Entry-level DSLR
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Movie format Does not take movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the K20D vs the K-x

appearance

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-x
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-x
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-x

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for Aleksey Aleksey (3:38 AM, February 07, 2012)
I hope that Pentax will release more lenses for prosumer market/ k-5.
 
Gloriameier (10:39 PM, January 01, 2012)
I love my KX