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
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
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Pentax K-x

45

Runner-up

Pentax K-x

"Image stabilisation via the camera body is a great feature that works very well when hand-holding the camera in low-light conditions."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's image-stabilization
"The camera has a deep, contoured handgrip on the right-hand side, coated in a rubberized compound to aid grip, that enabled me to use three fingers to hold it and my right forefinger to operate the shutter button."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's feel

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
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
90 lenses
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate

differences

Advantages of the Pentax K-x

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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 90 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 11.5x more lenses available
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 0
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
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
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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 600 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
40% less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
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
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

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger 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
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
45 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.

advice

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1
votes
by Matthew-Kim last month
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I am a beginner but woudl like to take quality pictures of my kids.

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

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0
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by 11111111111111111 last month
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2
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by Alex-Jenkins last month
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I'm a beginner who's been using an old Nikon D70 for last 7 years - in auto mode only. I want s...

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1
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by Phil-Hand last month
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I am a bit confused. Not hard for an amateur in such a complicated field. I see that the Nikon D51...

One person recommends the Nikon D5100:

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
K-x:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
NEX-5:APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't 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
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Color depth Good color depth Help
K-x:22.8 bits
NEX-5:22.2 bits
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
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

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $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 slightly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 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
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 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
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$631 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Slightly larger
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower

appearance

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

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