Comparison of the Pentax K-5 and the Nikon D90
Pentax K-5
63 points
Nikon D90
47 points
Pentax K-5
97 mm
131 mm
BODY
Nikon D90
103 mm
132 mm
2010
YEARYear of announcement
2008
Magnesium alloy with stainless steel chassis
BODY MATERIAL
Aluminium alloy with plastic
Weather
sealed
sealed
WEATHER SEALING
Notweather
sealed
Pentax KAF
LENS MOUNT
Nikon F
n/a
SHUTTER LIFEThe shutter durability as rated by the manufacturer.
100 000 cycles
740 g
1.63 lb
1.63 lb
131 x 97 x 73 mm
5.2 x 3.8 x 2.9 in.
5.2 x 3.8 x 2.9 in.
DIMENSIONS
& WEIGHTLength x Height x Width and the Weight incl. batteries and memory card
& WEIGHTLength x Height x Width and the Weight incl. batteries and memory card
DIMENS.
& WEIGHTLength x Height x Width and the Weight incl. batteries and memory card
& WEIGHTLength x Height x Width and the Weight incl. batteries and memory card
132 x 103 x 77 mm
5.2 x 4.1 x 3 in.
5.2 x 4.1 x 3 in.
703 g
1.55 lb
1.55 lb
Pentax K-5
Nikon D90
16.3 MP
Sony IMX071 Exmor CMOS APS-C Sensor
SENSOR The number of effective megapixels (MP). Sensor manufacturer (if known) and sensor type.
SENSOR Sensor manufacturer (if known) and sensor type.
12.3 MP
Sony IMX038 Exmor CMOS APS-C Sensor
16.3 MP
EFFECTIVE MEGAPIX The number of effective megapixels (MP).
12.3 MP
23.7 x 15.7 mm
SENSOR SIZE
23.6 x 15.8 mm
4928 x 3264 pixels
MAX. RESOLUTIONMaximum still image resolution
MAX. RESOLUT.Maximum still image resolution
4288 x 2848 pixels
1.5x
CROP FACTORA 50mm lens on a camera with a crop factor of 1.5x would behave like a 75mm lens on a full-frame camera with a crop factor of 1x (50mm x 1.5 = 75mm)
1.5x
Bayer array
COLOR FILTER
Bayer array
4.78 μm
PIXEL PITCHThe center-to-center distance between two pixels (photosites) on a sensor. The larger the photosites, the more light they can capture and the lower is the level of visible "noise" in captured images.
5.49 μm
Fixed
LOW-PASS FILTERA low-pass filter blurs fine details of an image to eliminate the moiré and the color artifacts of finely patterned structures. Without a low-pass filter images will appear sharper, but there is also a risk of moiré occurring in certain scenes.
Fixed
3:2
NATIVE
ASPECT RATIOThe width to height ratio of the "straight out of the camera" images. However, most modern digital cameras are capable of producing images in various aspect ratios.
ASPECT RATIOThe width to height ratio of the "straight out of the camera" images. However, most modern digital cameras are capable of producing images in various aspect ratios.
ASPECT RATIOThe width to height ratio of the "straight out of the camera" images. However, most modern digital cameras are capable of producing images in various aspect ratios.
3:2
82
OVERALL SCOREDXOMARK Sensor Overall Score shows a camera's sensor quality in terms of noise, ability to render high contrast, formation of colored noise, ability to shoot in low light.
73
14.1
DYNAMIC RANGEThe maximum dynamic range performance (DXOMARK Landscape Score) in exposure value (EV)
12.5
1162
LOW-LIGHT ISOThe low-light sensitivity performance (DXOMARK Sports Score) in ISO sensitivity value
977
Pentax K-5
Nikon D90
COVERAGE:
100 %
100 %
REAL SIZE:
0.61
0.61
VIEWFINDERThe viewfinder frame COVERAGE in percent and the real viewfinder SIZE (VF magnification corrected by the crop factor of a camera — this way cameras with different sensor sizes can be compared).
COVERAGE:
96 %
96 %
REAL SIZE:
0.63
0.63
Optical (pentaprism)
VF TYPE
Optical (pentaprism)
Fixed
921 600 dot LCD
921 600 dot LCD
REAR SCREEN
Fixed
921 600 dot LCD
921 600 dot LCD
3 inch
SCREEN SIZE
3 inch
LIVE VIEW & TOUCH SCREEN
TOP LCD PANELLCD panel on top of the camera which provides information about the current camera settings.
Pentax K-5
Nikon D90
Phase detection
AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM
AF SYSTEM
Phase detection, Contrast detection in Live View mode
SAFOX IX+
AUTOFOCUS MODULE
AF MODULE
Multi-CAM 1000
11
11
FOCUS POINTSAutofocus points
as shown in the figures below:
° linear sensors
° cross-type sensors
° dual cross-type sensors
contrast autofocus areas
as shown in the figures below:
° linear sensors
° cross-type sensors
° dual cross-type sensors
contrast autofocus areas
11
11
9
CROSS-TYPE FOCUS POINTS
CROSS-TYPE FP
1
-1
EV
100
The minimum exposure value of the AF working range (at 23°C and ISO 100). The smaller this value, the less light is needed for normal autofocus operation.-1
12 %
AF COVERAGEFrame coverage by AF sensors in percent.
17 %
Yes
IN-BODY
AF MOTORAn in-body AF motor gives the ability to auto-focus with older lenses which don't have their own motors.
AF MOTORAn in-body AF motor gives the ability to auto-focus with older lenses which don't have their own motors.
Yes
Sensor shift
IN-BODY IMAGE STABILIZATION
IMAGE STABILIZ.
No
Pentax K-5
Nikon D90
PRIME II
IMAGE
PROCESSOR
PROCESSOR
EXPEED EI-149
14 bit RAW, DNG, JPEG
OUTPUT FORMATS
12 bit RAW, JPEG
Auto, 100 - 12800
(can be extended to ISO 80 - 51200)
(can be extended to ISO 80 - 51200)
ISO SENSITIVITY
Auto, 200 - 3200
(can be extended to ISO 100 - 6400)
(can be extended to ISO 100 - 6400)
7
fps
fps
CONTINUOUS DRIVEMaximum frames per second (fps) in continuous drive mode when using the mechanical shutter.
CONT. DRIVEMaximum frames per second (fps) in continuous drive mode when using the mechanical shutter.
4.5
fps
fps
40 JPEG shots
15 RAW shots
15 RAW shots
MAX. BURSTMaximum number of shots in high-speed continuous drive mode until the buffer is full.
25 JPEG shots
9 RAW shots
9 RAW shots
1080p @ 25 fps (Full HD)
MAX. VIDEO RESOLUTION
VIDEO
720p @ 24 fps (HD)
-5/+5 EV (in 1/2 or 1/3 steps)
EXPOSURE COMPENSATION
EXPOSURE COMPENS.
-5/+5 EV (in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps)
Bulb,
30 sec → 1/8000 sec
30 sec → 1/8000 sec
SHUTTER SPEED Maximum and minimum possible exposure time in seconds.
Bulb,
30 sec → 1/4000 sec
30 sec → 1/4000 sec
Pentax K-5
Nikon D90
X-SYNC:
1/180
GUIDE
NUMBER:
NUMBER:
GN:
12
BUILT-IN FLASH
GUIDE
NUMBER:
NUMBER:
GN:
12
X-SYNC:
1/200
Yes
HOT SHOE
Yes
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Microphone port, HDMI
CONNECTIONS
CONNECT.
HDMI
BUILT-IN
DEVICES
DEVICES
SD, SDHC
STORAGE TYPES
SD, SDHC
1
CARD SLOTS
1
740
shots
shots
BATTERY LIFEMaximum number of images that can be shot per single battery charge (according to CIPA).
850
shots
shots
