Pentax
K-x
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Pentax K-x vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

54
"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Pentax K-x

40
Runner-up

Pentax K-x
"Noise is well controlled by the Pentax K-x, starting to appear at ISO 1600 and becoming more easily detectable at the faster settings of ISO 3200 and 6400."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's iso-noise
"The new Pentax K-x occupies the sweet spot between the entry-level K-m and prosumer K-7 cameras."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
9

differences

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 0
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 90 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 11.5x more lenses available
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 72.0 vs 69.0
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Startup delay Less startup delay 600 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
 40% less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 97 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 4.5x less delay when taking photos
Battery life Longer battery life 420 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 More than 30% faster max shutter speed
Pentax K-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
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
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Size Significantly smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 123x92x68 mm
Help
 3.1x smaller
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 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Significantly lighter 287 g vs 580 g
Help
 2x lighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 40% thinner
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4.7 fps
Help
 Around 50% faster continuous shooting
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
40 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5. 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.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

PentaxK-x
 Pentax K-x vs Sony Alpha NEX-5
SonyAlpha NEX-5
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
2
2
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
2
2
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
2
2
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
2
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
2
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
3
1
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
2
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
K-x:72.0
NEX-5:69.0
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
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-x:12.5 EV
NEX-5:12.2 EV
Color depth Good color depth Help
K-x:22.8 bits
NEX-5:22.2 bits
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
K-x:811 ISO
NEX-5:796 ISO
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
K-x:12.2 MP
NEX-5:14 MP
Light sensitivity Very good maximum light sensitivity Help
K-x:6,400 ISO
NEX-5:12,800 ISO
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
K-x:1/6000s
NEX-5:1/4000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds

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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $548 with 16mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the K-x
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the K-x
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the K-x
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the K-x
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-x
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the K-x
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$699 body only

$799 - $880 with 18-70mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the SLT-A55 vs the K-x
Compare the SLT-A55 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$649 body only

$540 - $579 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Slightly larger
Compare the K-r vs the K-x
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$1,008 - $1,500 body only

$1,293 - $1,650 with 18-55mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger
Compare the K-5 vs the K-x
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D90 vs the K-x

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$599 - $600 body only

$698 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$597 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Pentax K-x Sony Alpha NEX-5
Pentax K-x Sony Alpha NEX-5
Pentax K-x Sony Alpha NEX-5

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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