Pentax
K-5
 vs
Sony
NEX-5N

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N

62

  
Pentax K-5

60

  

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
 

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

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
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
90 lenses
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

differences

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 600 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 3.2x less delay when turning on
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 90 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 11.5x more lenses available
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 740 shots vs 460 shots
Help
 More than 60% more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 82.0 vs 77.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentaprism vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 12.7 EV
Help
 1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 104 ms vs 235 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when taking photos
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO vs 1,079 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 130x96x72 mm
Help
 3.7x smaller
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
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
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Much lighter 269 g vs 740 g
Help
 2.8x lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.5" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 50% thinner
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
60 vs 62
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
K-5:82.0
NEX-5N:77.0
Sensor size Large sensors Help
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
NEX-5N:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
K-5:16.1 MP
NEX-5N:16 MP
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
K-5:12,800 ISO
NEX-5N:25,600 ISO
Color depth Good color depth Help
K-5:23.7 bits
NEX-5N:23.6 bits
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
K-5:14.1 EV
NEX-5N:12.7 EV
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Battery life Great battery life Help
K-5:740 shots
NEX-5N:460 shots
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
K-5:1/8000s
NEX-5N:1/4000s

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-5N
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5
Compare the EOS 60D vs the NEX-5N
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-5
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the NEX-5N
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $800 body only

$749 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the K-5
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the NEX-5N
Pentax K-01

Pentax K-01

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the K-01 vs the K-5
Compare the K-01 vs the NEX-5N
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,130 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Longest exposure Slightly longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the K-5
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the NEX-5N
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the D3200 vs the K-5
Compare the D3200 vs the NEX-5N

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$488 - $690 body only

$547 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Weight Lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the K-30 vs the K-5
Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-5 II

Entry-level DSLR

$783 - $997 body only

$1,106 - $1,547 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Compare the K-5 II vs the K-5
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Autofocus Video autofocus
Image stabilization No image stabilization
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D7000 vs the K-5
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Autofocus Video autofocus
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the D7100 vs the K-5
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 7D vs the K-5

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Many more focus points
Battery life Shorter battery life
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Startup delay Less startup delay
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Pentax K-5 Sony NEX-5N
Pentax K-5 Sony NEX-5N
Pentax K-5 Sony NEX-5N

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