Pentax
K-5
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A700

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Pentax K-5 II vs Sony SLT-A77

Pentax K-5

100

  
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

50

  
Winner

Pentax K-5

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-5

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
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
 

differences

Advantages of the Pentax K-5
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 25fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO vs 581 ISO
Help
 The K-5 has excellent image quality 1 f-stop higher ISO than the DSLR-A700
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 82.0 vs 66.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.1 EV vs 11.9 EV
Help
 2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The K-5's maximum light sensitivity is 3 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
Size Much smaller 130x96x72 mm vs 142x105x80 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 5 fps
Help
 40% faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 740 shots vs 650 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.60x vs 0.59x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.7mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 740 g vs 768 g
Help
 Almost the same
Pentax K-5 Learn more about
the Pentax K-5

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A700
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A700
vs

recommendations

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

Pentax K-5 Pentax K-5
100 vs 50
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
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
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Sensor size Large sensors Help
K-5:APS-C 23.6x15.7mm
DSLR-A700:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Fastest shutter speed Very fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
K-5:740 g
DSLR-A700:768 g
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
K-5:90 lenses
DSLR-A700:92 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
DSLR-A700:12.2 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 Alpha DSLR-A700
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
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 Alpha DSLR-A700
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the K-5
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$998 - $1,000 body only

$1,598 - $1,930 with 16-50mm lens
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the SLT A77 vs the K-5
Compare the SLT A77 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the K-5
Compare the D90 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-5
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the K-5
Compare the D3200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

Pentax K-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$498 - $690 body only

$557 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lowest price Cheaper
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

$767 - $997 body only

$1,113 - $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
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
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-5

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $499 body only

$519 - $539 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Live view Has live view
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the SLT A57 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $779 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A580 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,764 body only
Live view Has live view
Focus points Many more focus points
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D300 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Sony SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$1,098 body only

$1,193 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Live view Has live view
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the SLT-A55 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

appearance

Pentax K-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Pentax K-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Pentax K-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

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