Here is a table comparing the Pentax K-r with the Pentax K-x:

Click here to compare other Pentax DSLRs.

	Pentax K-r	Pentax K-x
Year introduced	2010	2009
Availability	Worldwide	Worldwide
Mount	KAF2 (without coupling for aperture ring)	KAF2 (without coupling for aperture ring)
Meter range	1 to 21.5 EV	1 to 21.5 EV
Meter pattern	m (16 segments) c s	m (16 segments) c s
ISO range (expanded)	200 - 12800 (100 - 25600)	200 - 6400 (100 - 12800)
Expanded dynamic range	Yes, highlight and shadow	Yes, highlight and shadow
Exposure modes	AutoPict, SCN, P, Sv, Av, Tv, M, B	AutoPict, SCN, P, Sv, Av, Tv, M, B
Restrictions	Exposure modes with M and K lenses are restricted to Av (with aperture always wide open) and M	Exposure modes with M and K lenses are restricted to Av (with aperture always wide open) and M
Program modes	Normal, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night-scene Portrait, Flash Off	Normal, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night-scene Portrait, Flash Off. In live view also: Blue Sky, Sunset
Scene Modes	11: Night Scene, Surf and Snow, Food, Sunset, Stage Lighting, Night Snap, Night Scene HDR, Kids, Pet, Candlelight, Museum	10: Night Scene, Surf and Snow, Food, Sunset, Stage Lighting, Night Snap, Kids, Pet, Candlelight, Museum
Exposure compensation	+/-3 EV	+/-3 EV
Exposure lock	Yes	Yes
Shutter speeds (auto)	30s - 1/6000s (stepless)	30s - 1/6000s (stepless)
Shutter speeds (manual)	B, 30s - 1/6000s	B, 30s - 1/6000s
Mirror lock-up	Yes	Yes
Shutter life	At least 100,000 actuations	Shutter life: At least 100,000 actuations
Self timer / Interval shooting	Yes / Yes	Yes / No
Continuous shooting	Hi: 6 fps (25 JPG, 12 RAW), Lo: 2 fps (unlimited JPG, 36 RAW)	Hi: 4.7 fps to 17 frames (JPG), 5 frames (RAW) Lo: 2 fps until card is full (JPG), up to 11 frames (RAW)
Shake reduction	Yes	Yes
Auto bracketing	Yes (3 frames)	Yes (3 frames)
HDR mode	Yes	Yes
Multiple exposures	Yes	Yes
Built-in flash	Yes, GN 12 (ISO 100), 16 (ISO 200)	Yes, GN 12 (ISO 100), 16 (ISO 200)
TTL flash	No	No
P-TTL flash	Yes	Yes
Sync speed	1/180s	1/180s
Flash exposure comp	-2 to 1 EV	-2 to 1 EV
Extra external flash functions	Wireless, High-speed, Contrast control	Wireless, High-speed, Contrast control
Autofocus	Yes (SAFOX IX, 11 focus points), AF.S, AF.C and AF.A	Yes (SAFOX VIII, 11 focus points)
Autofocus sensitivity	-1 to 18 EV	-1 to 18 EV
Autofocus with SDM	Yes	Yes
AF Assist	Dedicated lamp (can be disabled)	No
Front/Back focus corr	Yes, one adjustment	No
Power zoom	No	No
Lens correction	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder	0.85x, 96%	0.85x, 96%
Viewfinder type	Pentamirror	Pentamirror
Diopter adjustment	-2.5 to +1.5	-2.5 to +1.5
AF Points in viewfinder	Yes	No
Exchangeable screen	No	No
Depth of field preview	Yes	Yes
Digital preview	Yes (with image magnificaion)	Yes (with image magnificaion)
Live view	Yes	Yes
Video/Movie Mode	1280x720p / 25fps (16:9) 640x480p / 25 fps (4:3)	1280x720 (16:9) at 24 fps 640x416 (3:2) at 24 fps Composite video out (no HDMI out)
Movie mode restrictions	The aperture is fixed during recording. Autofocus is not available during recording.	The aperture is fixed during recording. Autofocus is not available during recording.
Sound in Movie mode	Mono (built-in mic) No provision for external mic	Mono (built-in mic) No provision for external mic
Camera controls	1 control wheel. Most functions accessed through info screen or menus	1 control wheel. Most functions accessed through info screen or menus
Custom Functions	22	22
Sensor	12.4 MP CMOS with SP coating	12.4 MP CMOS with SP coating
Image size	15.8 x 23.6 mm	15.8 x 23.6 mm
Color Depth	3 x 12 bit (RAW)	3 x 12 bit (RAW)
Dust removal / alert	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes
Pixel mapping	Yes	Yes
File format	DNG, PEF, JPG, AVI	DNG, PEF, JPG, AVI
Memory card type	SD, SDHC (max. 32GB), SDXC via firmware update	SD, SDHC (max. 32GB), SDXC via firmware update
Tethering	No	No
Back LCD	3 in. 921,000 pix	2.7 in. 230,000 pix
Top LCD	No	No
Weather resistant	No	No
Battery	Li-Ion D-LI109 or 4 x AA with optional battery holder	4 x AA
Battery grip	No	No
Size (W x H x D)	125 x 97 x 68 mm	122.5 x 91.5 x 67.5 mm
Weight	544 g (598 g with Li-Ion battery and SD card)	515 g (580 g with lithium batteries and SD card)
Latest firmware	Version 1.01	Version 1.02
Comment	IrSimple high-speed infrared data transmission. Embed copyright information in EXIF. Image plane indicator. In-camera RAW development. Save last JPG as RAW. High ISO noise reduction is customizable separately for each ISO setting.	In-camera RAW development

[dragonfly]

The focus points, bigger LCD, and AF lamp are what I was missing on my K-x.

[Rite]

The K-r has some great features to it.

If one already has the K-x, it wouldn't be enough difference to jump to the K-r, IMO.

The K5 is more of a candidate for me personally.

About a year apart between the K-r and K-x now, and the K-x will be a great bargain until they're gone.

[Mystic]

I believe there have to be some corrections to this chart.. because as far as I remember k-r has front-back focus correction for one lens.

and the differences in focusing should be more than just visible focus points and assist lamp, iK-r has the same focusig as K-5 only without "+" that is without further focus correction depending on the light source..

So the speed of K-r focusing should be the same as of K-5 in both af-s and af-c

Another good point for K-r is bigger buffer. So with 6fps and 20+ frames jpegs, and 12 or so raws, in my opinion it's the best pentax tool for sports.

Also K-r has almost the same software as k-5, and newer than the k-x so many other enhancement of features are available such as intervalometer, Night HDR and I believe there's more.. I hope that now it's possible to adjust volume in the movie mode, use 2 sec timer in HDR mode, and maybe the green button has more options to it..
so, even though I'd like to have K-5 body.. I'm not willing to so much more for such flaws as smaller buffer than K-r's,

having in mind that both all K-7, K-x, K-r and K-5 share the same processor, K-5 will be the slowest one to respond. While K-r should be the most optimal

we experienced the same shift when K10d was replaced by k20d, the resolution from 10mp went to 14.6 but the processor stayed the same. so the camera was not as responsive as k10d was and it was quite noticeable.

more over the K-r looks much more solid than the kx, it resembles its bigger brothers with similar lines and the flash, gets to the same height.

I think nowadays, when the company is releasing their new flagships, it is a necessity to replacace:
sensor, processor and buffer.
because if there is an increase in the data load, the new camera has to have power and potential to cope with it and not become slower than it's predecessor.

in pentax case we experienced this twice. they try to economize on the expence of cameras performance and responsiveness. k10d->k20d and now k-7->k5 is the same story.

[JoepLX3]

Also K-r has almost the same software as k-5, and newer than the k-x so many other enhancement of features are available such as intervalometer, Night HDR and I believe there's more.. I hope that now it's possible to adjust volume in the movie mode, use 2 sec timer in HDR mode, and maybe the green button has more options to it..
so, even though I'd like to have K-5 body.. I'm not willing to so much more for such flaws as smaller buffer than K-r's,

having in mind that both all K-7, K-x, K-r and K-5 share the same processor, K-5 will be the slowest one to respond. While K-r should be the most optimal

I forgot about the interval and potentially other software features...

Will Pentax come with bundle of K-r and new 35 mm F2.4 lens?
- In Japan that lens comes in many colors...

[Adam]

I forgot about the interval and potentially other software features...

Will Pentax come with bundle of K-r and new 35 mm F2.4 lens?
- In Japan that lens comes in many colors...

Probably not, but this thread isn't the place to ask that. You'll get more responses in the lens forum.

[ferraribmwbenz]

Excuse me, i think there is one small mistake.

The autofocus system of K-r should be only SAFOX IX, without +.

[Adam]

Yup- no plus. That's only for the K-5 and 645D.