Pentax
K-5
 vs
Sony SLT
A65

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Pentax K-5 II vs Sony SLT-A65

Pentax K-5

100

  
Sony SLT-A65

73

  
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
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.1 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
600 ms startup delay
 
Runner-up

Sony SLT A65

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT A65

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.71x
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
16,000 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 

differences

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO vs 717 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 74.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Startup delay Much less startup delay 600 ms vs 2800 ms
Help
 4.7x less delay when turning on
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 3
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 12.6 EV
Help
 1.5 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Battery life Longer battery life 740 shots vs 560 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Size Significantly smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 132x97x81 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 104 ms vs 138 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.2"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.7mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5

Advantages of the Sony SLT A65
Autofocus Video autofocus Phase detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24 MP vs 16.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.60x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
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
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The SLT A65's maximum light sensitivity is 0.3 f-stops better
Focus points More focus points 15 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 622 g vs 740 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $586.99 vs $691.90
Help
 The best price we've seen is $105 cheaper (around 20% less)
Sony SLT-A65 Learn more about
the Sony SLT A65
vs

recommendations

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

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
100 vs 73
Explain scores
Sony SLT A65 Sony SLT-A65
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
SLT A65:138 ms
Sensor size Large sensors Help
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
SLT A65:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Weight Heavy Help
K-5:740 g
SLT A65:622 g
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
K-5:90 lenses
SLT A65:92 lenses

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$518 - $690 body only

$559 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
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 SLT A65
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Compare the D7000 vs the SLT A65
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$998 - $1,000 body only

$1,598 - $1,930 with 16-50mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the SLT A77 vs the K-5
Compare the SLT A77 vs the SLT A65
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Compare the EOS 60D vs the SLT A65
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Compare the D5100 vs the SLT A65
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 SLT A65
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Cross type focus points Has much more cross-type focus points
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5
Compare the EOS 7D vs the SLT A65

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 Longer battery life
Lowest price More expensive
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5

Sony SLT-A65 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $499 body only

$519 - $539 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
True resolution Much lower true resolution
GPS No built-in GPS
Compare the SLT A57 vs the SLT A65
Sony SLT A58

Sony SLT A58

Entry-level DSLR

$588 - $598 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the SLT A58 vs the SLT A65

appearance

Pentax K-5 Sony SLT-A65
Pentax K-5 Sony SLT-A65
Pentax K-5 Sony SLT-A65

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