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Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
70
Overall
67
Canon EOS 5D Mark II front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Canon 5D MII
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 850g - 152 x 114 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Replaced the Canon 5D
  • Newer Model is Canon 5D MIII
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-5
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Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the 5D MII (21MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the 5D MII (Full frame) and K-5 II (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The 5D MII was brought out 5 years prior to the K-5 II which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the 5D MII grades vs the K-5 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D MII over the Pentax K-5 II

 5D MII K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Canon 5D MII

 K-5 II 5D MII 
IntroducedJune 2013February 2009Newer by 52 months
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Canon 5D MII and Pentax K-5 II

 5D MII K-5 II 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon 5D MII offers outer dimensions of 152mm x 114mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") along with a weight of 850 grams (1.87 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 II has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

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Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the 5D MII compared to the K-5 II.

Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the 5D MII and K-5 II is 56 and 60 respectively.

Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading specifications. The pic underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 5D MII and K-5 II.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The 5D MII because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Canon 5D MII will offer more detail having its extra 5MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged 5D MII is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Portrait photography camera
79
focusing manually
good megapixels (21MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Street photography camera
59
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D MII Sports photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography advice
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
good megapixels (21MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D MII Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography info
55
environment proofing
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
65
weather sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D MII Landscape photography features
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography features
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (21MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Vlogging camera
29
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Canon 5D MII vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MII and Pentax K-5 II
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IIPentax K-5 II
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II Pentax K-5 II
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-02-13 2013-06-04
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 5616 x 3744 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 50 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 250 151
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT liquid-crystal color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 850 grams (1.87 lb) 760 grams (1.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 152 x 114 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 82
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 14.1
DXO Low light score 1815 1235
Other
Battery life 850 shots 980 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $1,190 $830