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Pentax K-5, K-7, and K20D Compared
Posted By: Adam, 09-22-2010, 08:01 PM

Here is a chart comparing the Pentax K-5 with the Pentax K-7 and the Pentax K20D.

Click here to compare other Pentax DSLRs.

Pentax K-5Pentax K-7Pentax K20D
Year introduced201020092008
AvailabilityWorldwideWorldwideDiscontinued
MountKAF2 (exposure mode limitations with M and K series lenses)KAF2 (exposure mode limitations with M and K series lenses)KAF2 (exposure mode limitations with M and K series lenses)
Meter range0 to 22 EV0 to 21 EV0 to 21 EV
Meter patternm (77 segments) c sm (77 segments) c sm (16 segments) c s
ISO range (expanded)100 - 12800 (80 - 51200)100 - 3200 (100 - 6400)100 - 3200 (100 - 6400)
Expanded dynamic rangeYes, highlight and shadowYes, highlight and shadowYes, highlight
Exposure modesGreen, HyP, Sv, Av, Tv, TAv, HyM, X, BGreen, HyP, Sv, Av, Tv, TAv, HyM, X, BGreen, HyP, Sv, Av, Tv, TAv, HyM, X, B
Exposure compensation+/-5 EV+/-5 EV+/-3 EV
Exposure lockYesYesYes
Shutter speeds (auto)30s - 1/8000s (stepless)30s - 1/8000s (stepless)30s - 1/4000s (stepless)
Shutter speeds (manual)B, 30s - 1/8000sB, 30s - 1/8000sB, 30s - 1/4000s
Continuous shootingHi: 7 fps to 22 frames (JPG), 8 frames (PEF/DNG),
Lo: 2 fps until card is full (JPG), up to 12 frames (PEF/DNG)
Hi: 5.2 fps to 40 frames (JPG), 15 frames (PEF), 14 frames (DNG)
Lo: 3.3 fps until card is full (JPG), up to 17 frames (PEF/DNG)
Hi: 3 fps up to 38 frames (JPG), 14 franes (PEF), 16 frames (DNG)
Lo: 2.3 fps until card is full (JPG)
Burst mode: 21 fps up to 115 frames (1024 x 1536 JPG)
Self timer / Interval shootingYes / YesYes / YesYes / Yes
Mirror lock-upYesYesYes
Shake reductionYesYesYes
Auto bracketingYes (2, 3 or 5 frames)Yes (3 or 5 frames)Yes (3 or 5 frames)
HDR modeYesYesNo
Multiple exposuresYesYesYes
Built-in flashYes, GN 13Yes, GN 13Yes, GN 13
TTL flashNoNoNo
P-TTL flashYesYesYes
Sync speed1/180s1/180s1/180s
Flash exposure comp-2 to 1 EV-2 to 1 EV-2 to 1 EV
AutofocusYes (SAFOX IX+, 11 focus points, light wavelength sensor)Yes (SAFOX VIII+, 11 focus points)Yes (SAFOX VIII, focus 11 points)
Autofocus sensitivity-1 to 18 EV-1 to 18 EV-1 to 18 EV
Autofocus with SDMYesYesYes
AF AssistDedicated lamp (can be disabled)Dedicated lamp (can be disabled)Yes, stroboscopic flash
Front/Back focus corrYesYes (adjustments for up to 20 lenses)Yes (adjustments for up to 20 lenses)
Power zoomLimitedLimitedLimited
Lens correctionYesYesNo
Viewfinder0.92x, 100%0.92x, 100%0.95x, 95%
Viewfinder typePentaprismPentaprismPentaprism
Diopter adjustment-2.5 to +1.5-2.5 to +1.5-2.5 to +1.5
AF Points in viewfinderYesYesYes
Exchangeable screenYesYesYes
Depth of field previewYesYesYes
Digital previewYes (with image magnificaion)Yes (with image magnificaion)Yes (with image magnificaion)
Live viewYesYesYes
Video/Movie Mode1960x1080 (16:9 Full HD) at 25 fps
1280x720 (16:9) at 30 or 25 fps
640x480 (4:3) at 30 or 25 fps
HDMI out
1536x1024 (3:2) at 30 fps
1280x720 (16:9) at 30 fps
640x416 (3:2) at 30 fps
HDMI out
No
Sound in Movie modeStereo (external mic)
Mono (built-in mic)
Stereo (external mic)
Mono (built-in mic)
Camera controls2 control wheels. Many dedicated buttons2 control wheels. Many dedicated buttons2 control wheels. Many dedicated buttons
Custom Functions40
(Five programmable USER Settings)
37
(One programmable USER Setting)
36
(One programmable USER Setting)
Sensor16.28 MP CMOS with SP coating14.6 MP CMOS14.6 MP CMOS
Image size15.7 x 23.7 mm15.8 x 23.6 mm15.8 x 23.6 mm
Dust removal / alertDRII (ultrasonic) / YesDRII (ultrasonic) / YesYes / Yes
Pixel mappingYesYesYes
File formatDNG, PEF, JPG, AVIDNG, PEF, JPG, AVIDNG, PEF, JPG
Memory card typeSD, SDHC (max. 32GB), SDXC via firmware updateSD, SDHCSD, SDHC
TetheringNoNoYes
Back LCD3 in. 921,000 pix3 in. 921,000 pix2.7 in. 230,000 pix
Top LCDYesYesYes
Weather resistantYesYesYes
BatteryD-LI90 lithium-ion rechargeableD-LI90 lithium-ion rechargeableD-LI50 lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery gripD-BG4 with D-LI90 or 6x AAD-BG4 with D-LI90 or 6x AAD-BG2 with D-LI50
Size (W x H x D)130.5 x 96.5 x 72.5 mm130.5 x 96.5 x 72.5 mm141.5 x 101 x 70 mm
Weight660 g (740 g with battery and SD card)670g (750g with battery and SD card)715 g
CommentProgram lines: Auto, Normal, Action, Depth of field (two), MTF.

Extra flash functions: Wireless, High-Speed, Contrast control.

Exposure modes with M and K lenses:Restricted to Av (with aperture always wide open) and M.

Movie mode: The exposure value is fixed during recording.

Color depth: 3 x 14 bit (RAW).

Shutter life: At least 100,000 actuations.

Other: Embed copyright information in EXIF.
Image plane indicator.
In-camera RAW development.
Save last jpg as RAW.
The RAW button is customizable and can perform a variety of functions, hereunder exposure bracketing.
High ISO noise reduction is customizable separately for each ISO setting.
The 11 autofocus points cover a wider area of the image than on previous models.
Program lines: Auto, Normal, Action, Depth of field (two), MTF.

Extra flash functions: Wireless, High-Speed, Contrast control.

Exposure modes with M and K lenses: Restricted to Av (with aperture always wide open) and M.

Movie mode: The exposure value is fixed during recording.

Color depth: 3 x 12 bit (RAW).

Shutter life: At least 100,000 actuations.

Other: Embed copyright information in EXIF
Image plane indicator
In-camera RAW development
Program lines: Normal, Action, Depth of field, MTF.

Extra flash functions: Wireless, High-Speed, Contrast control.

Exposure modes with M and K lenses: Restricted to Av (with aperture always wide open) and M.




Last edited by Ole; 11-06-2010 at 09:02 AM.
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09-22-2010, 11:35 PM   #2
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thanks for info and work
09-23-2010, 10:28 AM   #3
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Very helpful. Thanks.
09-23-2010, 10:51 AM   #4
emr
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Very interesting, thanks. However, while the K-5 is obviously superior to the K-7 like it was superior to the K20D, a comparison chart like this makes the changes from one generation to the next look fairly small. Evolution, not revolution.

09-23-2010, 12:59 PM   #5
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Thanks. Very interesting.
09-23-2010, 02:56 PM   #6
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Dump question... what's Flash exposure comp? First time I hear of it. My camera has it apparently
09-23-2010, 04:13 PM   #7
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nice. thanks for the work. any chance of adding the k10 to this comparison?

09-23-2010, 04:14 PM   #8
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See Pentax K-5, Pentax K-r & Pentax K-x - Pentax Camera Comparison - PentaxForums.com if you'd like to do your own comparisons (BETA).

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09-24-2010, 05:08 AM - 1 Like   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by emr Quote
Very interesting, thanks. However, while the K-5 is obviously superior to the K-7 like it was superior to the K20D, a comparison chart like this makes the changes from one generation to the next look fairly small. Evolution, not revolution.
For a Photographer the changes may be smaller than superior. Superior is a very strong word that may not apply to all photographers. Take the K-7. I was all excited when it was being introduced only to discover its CMOS sensor was inferior(?) to the K20D CMOS sensor (I know really it's fairly close). In any case my research and many others pros research did discover an increase in noise compared to the K20D. So for my shooting which is 90% non-action the K-7 was not an upgrade for me. My hands also preferred the K20D grip (with battery grip, which I could not try when I was trying out the K-7, so...).

Marketing wants you to think as you are. The next dSLR is superior. Truth is although the K-5 high ISO shots are great and this will probably be the one I get (I will still keep the K20D as a backup) its ISO3200 pics are not of the same quality as ISO400 it seems. There is noise and NR will reduce detail.

OK look at it this way. The 645D does 1.1fps, can't do ISO1600 anywhere near as good as the K20D, K-7 or K-5. Is it better or worse than the K-5? It depends on the photographer and their needs.

This chart sums it up nicely. Your paying for high ISO which you may or may not need, and tons of JPEG features. There was performance improvments such as the metering. Many shoot RAW as me. IS the K-5 a step up, yea this one seems to be. But was the K-7 superior to the K20D, not when I tried them for my needs. Thats why I waited. I got the 3 year warranty for the K20D, still have 17 months of warranty on my K20D .

None of those cameras in USA English is superior to the other, it depends on the photographer. The chart is non-subjective and just shows you what you are really paying for. I don't get OOF shots with my K20D for my type shooting! I don't need ISO6400 unless its as clean as ISO100. Same with 645D buyers the IQ has to be the best for every pic.

Once you start thinking each camera that comes out is superior to the previous you are locked into the upgrade game of the manufacture. And you forget you can get equal pics from both except BIF I hope with the K-5 I hope it can track much better. But other than that, and high ISO shooting. The pics are up to the Photographer not the camera. Its designed to get into your wallet. A technology upgrade game.
03-12-2011, 01:53 PM   #10
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Low noise high ISO shots opens up a whole range of benefits, you can photograph interiors without flash and still have little noise, good for wedding photographers, faster shutter speeds when using long lenses in less than perfect light etc., all with little noise penalty. Think of the saving you make not having to buy wide aperture lenses. OK I know they have DOF and selective focus advantages.

I shoot a lot of bracketed shots for HDR, low light shots have always been a problem, now I can leave ISO on Auto with a maximum of 1600 and the camera will bracket shots using ISO and won't slow the shutter speed until it has too, this means, with the help of 7 fps, I can rattle off 3 exposures +/- 2 stops in less than a second even in low light, few problems with ghosting, no pre treatment of the images for noise required.

And I haven't mentiond the much increased Dyanmic Range, the K5 is not just a 'cosmetic' upgrade, in my view it's a paradime shift.

Chris
01-13-2013, 12:50 PM   #11
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Thanks.

Thanks for this chart.
01-13-2013, 02:58 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by jamesm007 Quote
[K-5] its ISO3200 pics are not of the same quality as ISO400 it seems
No camera's ISO3200 setting is as good as its ISO400 setting. Let's assume that we take a "well exposed" shot at both ISOs. There are 1/8th the number of photons in the ISO3200 shot as in the ISO400. Since this is "well exposed" shot, photonic shot noise (a property of light itself) will be the dominant noise source. (Read noise is present in the shadows, not in the well exposed parts of the image, and is very low in the K-5 anyway.) The shot noise rises at the square-root of the number of photos. So while there is more shot noise in the ISO400 shot (8x the number of photons as in the ISO32000 shot, so 2.8x more shot noise), the ratio of Signal to Noise is 8:sq-root(8) = 2.8:1 better. So the ISO400 shot will always look cleaner than ISO3200 on any decent camera.

While above ISO1600 on the K-5 has non-defeatable NR at the raw level, remember that high ISO in any DSLR is achieved by digital multiplication, not analogue gain. (The digital-gain switch-over point varies from model to model: ISO800-ISO1600 is typical. The D7000, although using the same sensor as the K-5, only appears to use digital gain at all ISO levels.) So an ISO1600 shot, shot at -1EV Comp and boosted +1EV in PP, will have the same rendered brightness as the ISO3200 shot, but no raw NR, and it will have more clipping headroom. (Since the ADC input level was -1EV lower, the possibility of specular highlights being clipped in the raw file itself from ADC clipping is also lower, and if using raw, you can apply a different tone response curve, when applying the +1EV in PP, so reducing the likelihood of highlight clipping in the final rendered image.)

Be aware though, that raw NR, since it is applied before demosiacing, should be less visibly destructive than NR applied after demosaicing i.e. to a 16-bit TIFF file.


Dan.

Last edited by dosdan; 02-17-2013 at 12:32 PM.
02-15-2013, 08:45 PM   #13
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Dan,

I only followed about 50 percent of your post because math makes me sleepy. Are you suggesting that a high-ISO image from my K-7 should look nearly as good after proper post-processing as one straight from a K-5, since the K-5 image's lack of noise is largely the result of in-camera processing (albeit pre-mosaicing)?

v/r,

Rick
06-09-2013, 07:59 PM   #14
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Would it be possible to add the K5-II? I'm thinking of upgrading from the K20D.
06-09-2013, 09:41 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by gbeaton Quote
Would it be possible to add the K5-II? I'm thinking of upgrading from the K20D.
This static article is outdated. Check out our dynamic camera comparison page instead:
Pentax Cameras | Pentax K-5 II / IIs vs. Pentax K-5 vs. Pentax K20D - Pentax DSLR Comparison - PentaxForums.com

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