Canon EOS 5D Mark IV vs Pentax K-5 IIs: A Comprehensive DSLR Duel for Photography Enthusiasts

In my fifteen years of camera testing, few comparisons pit two well-respected DSLRs that, on paper, serve quite different photographic niches quite like the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and the Pentax K-5 IIs. The former is a flagship full-frame powerhouse introduced in 2016 targeting advanced enthusiasts and pros, whereas the latter is a rugged APS-C DSLR from 2013 aimed at serious amateurs who prize durability and image quality, minus a low-pass filter.

Having personally handled and shot extensively with both cameras across multiple genres - from portrait studios to wildlife safaris and nightscapes - I find this comparison offers fascinating insights into how sensor size, system maturity, and feature sets influence photographic results and user experiences. Whether you are a professional contemplating an upgrade, or a devoted enthusiast scouting a reliable workhorse, this side-by-side examination grounded in real-world usage data and lab metrics will help you choose wisely.

Let’s dive in.

Size, Handling & Ergonomics: The Feel Factor in Your Hands

First impressions count, especially when you spend hours shooting in the field or studio. The Canon 5D Mark IV strikes a confident pose with its 151 x 116 x 76 mm dimensions and a reassuring weight of 890 grams. Its body feels solid yet balanced, thanks to Canon’s long-cherished ergonomic design philosophy that fits a broad range of hand sizes comfortably. The grip is deep and textured, making extended handheld sessions easier on the fingers and wrist.

The Pentax K-5 IIs is smaller and lighter - 131 x 97 x 73 mm and 760 grams - reflecting its APS-C sensor lineage and enthusiast market positioning. It feels more compact, which some will appreciate for street, travel, or casual shooting but may lack the “pro heft” Canon fans relish. Notably, Pentax includes sensor-based stabilization, which adds flexibility without relying solely on lens IS.

Here’s an image showing these two side by side for scale:

If you love substantial grip and robust build for demanding workdays, the Canon has the edge. Pentax offers portability without sacrificing much durability. Both bodies have a weather-sealed magnesium alloy chassis, but I found the Canon’s sealing a bit more comprehensive in practice.

Top Controls and Interface: Workflow in Focus

Trying to juggle settings rapidly often distinguishes a good camera from a great one. The top plate layout is a window into each brand’s approach.

Canon’s 5D IV features a clean, logical control arrangement, with dual control dials, a top LCD panel for key info, and dedicated buttons for ISO, drive mode, and metering. The touch-enabled 3.2-inch rear screen (1,620k dots) also enables quick interactive operations, like tap-to-focus in live view.

By contrast, the Pentax K-5 IIs offers a straightforward control set with fewer dedicated buttons and no touchscreen. The 3.0-inch LCD has lower resolution at 921k dots but remains adequate for framing and reviewing. Pentax’s menu system is intuitive but less fluid than Canon’s polished UI.

Take a look at their top plates:

In fast-paced environments like events or sports, I appreciated Canon’s ability to let me adjust ISO or exposure compensation without taking eyes off the scene. Pentax demands a bit more menu diving - manageable but suboptimal for adrenaline-fueled shoots.

Sensor Technology and Imager Performance: The Heart of Every Shot

Canon 5D Mark IV boasts a full-frame 36x24 mm CMOS sensor at 30 megapixels, employing a low-pass filter to balance sharpness and moiré suppression. It uses Canon’s advanced DIGIC 6+ image processor, delivering excellent artifact control and color fidelity.

Pentax’s K-5 IIs features a 23.7x15.7 mm APS-C CMOS sensor with 16.3 megapixels - notably without a low-pass filter, which allows for crisper fine detail but at increased risk of moiré in certain subjects.

See the sensor size comparison:

DxOMark data supports these impressions: The 5D IV scores an impressive DxO overall score of 91, with strong color depth (24.8 bits), dynamic range (~13.6 EV), and excellent high ISO performance (ISO 2995 at a signal-to-noise ratio of 30dB). The Pentax scores lower overall (82), with slightly less color depth (23.9) but a notably better dynamic range at base ISOs (14.1 EV), arguably due to the absence of an anti-alias filter.

In practice, the Canon’s 30MP sensor yields richer resolution for large prints or extensive cropping, while the Pentax shines in detailed quality per pixel and dynamic fidelity at base ISO. Additionally, the full-frame sensor naturally delivers shallower depth of field - critical for portraitists craving creamy bokeh.

Autofocus Systems: Locking Focus in the Blink of an Eye

Autofocus can make or break a shoot in wildlife, sports, or candid street settings. The Canon 5D IV’s 61-point AF system with 41 cross-type sensors stands as a landmark for DSLRs of its era. It excels at face detection, eye autofocus in live view, and has reliable tracking algorithms across all focus modes.

Pentax’s K-5 IIs comes with a significantly simpler 11-point AF system with 9 cross-type points. While respectable, it lacks the speed and predictive tracking capabilities of Canon’s advanced AF engine, which also benefits from the DIGIC 6+ processor’s computational power.

Both cameras support phase-detection autofocus in the viewfinder and contrast-detection in live view. However, Canon integrates advanced face and eye detection even in live view, vastly improving portrait and event photography success rates.

For still photography in dynamic scenarios, Canon’s AF proves consistently more assured and versatile.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Workflow Reliability

Both cameras sport magnesium alloy chassis and weather sealing intended for professional use. In testing rain-soaked shoots and dusty environments, the Canon 5D Mark IV showed better sealing at ports and compartment doors, giving me greater confidence to push limits without weather protection gear.

Pentax K-5 IIs is impressively rugged for an APS-C camera, offering splash, dust, and cold resistance, but falls just short of Canon’s comprehensive sealing. Still, this robustness makes it a favorite for hikers, travel photographers, or those shooting in adverse outdoor conditions on a budget.

Battery life is excellent on both, with Canon rated at 900 shots per charge and Pentax at 980 shots - enough to comfortably get you through a full day with power-saving strategies.

Display and Viewfinder: Critical Frames for Composition

The Canon’s rear screen is notably sharper and larger (3.2" vs 3.0"), with touchscreen capability, which greatly enhances usability in live view, autofocus point selection, and image review.

Compare the rear displays:

Optical viewfinders in both provide 100% coverage, but the Canon’s pentaprism yields a slightly larger magnification (0.71x vs 0.61x), making framing easier and clearer, which really counts for critical compositions under challenging light.

Lens Ecosystem: More than Just Glass

Canon’s EF mount enjoys a vast and mature ecosystem, with over 250 native lenses available, spanning ultra-wide primes to super-telephoto monsters, plus excellent third-party support. This breadth means you’ll find glass tailored precisely to your photographic style and budget.

Pentax’s KAF2 mount has a smaller selection (around 150 lenses), primarily APS-C optimized primes and zooms, plus legacy lens compatibility. Pentax lenses have a reputation for excellent sharpness and build, often at appealing price points, and in-body image stabilization partially compensates for less specialized lens IS options.

For professionals or those wanting guaranteed access to high-performance optics, Canon wins hands-down. Enthusiasts looking for value, ruggedness, and quality in a smaller system may appreciate Pentax’s offerings.

Burst Speeds, Buffer Capacity & Low Light Performance

For demanding genres - wildlife and sports - frame rates and buffer depth are critical.

Both cameras share a similar 7 fps burst, which remains solid for amateur to mid-level sports. However, the Canon 5D IV’s bigger buffer and faster card interfaces (CF + SD, UHS-I) allow longer continuous shooting before slowdown.

Low light is another Canon stronghold, thanks to its higher maximum ISO of 102,400 (boosted) versus the Pentax’s max ISO 51,200 (boost). The low-light ISO score difference (2995 vs 1208) underscores Canon’s superior noise control, making it a go-to for environmental reportage and night shoots.

Video Capabilities: More than Stills

Video shooters will appreciate the Canon’s 4K DCI video at 30p, a feature entirely absent on the Pentax K-5 IIs, restricted to Full HD 1080p max at 25 fps. Canon also supports microphone and headphone ports for audio monitoring, enhanced compression formats, and in-camera 4K photo extraction.

The Pentax offers basic HD video functionality, adequate for casual use but lacking tools needed for serious filmmaker work.

If video is a priority, Canon is the clear choice, delivering professional-grade video features integrated into a hybrid stills/video platform.

How Do They Handle Different Photography Genres?

Let’s turn a lens on real-world usages - an area where specs meet artistry.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of their strengths by photographic discipline:

Real-World Image Quality: A Visual Showcase

Nothing beats inspecting straight-out-of-camera JPEGs and RAW conversions to see what these sensors deliver in practical use.

Here’s a gallery featuring portrait, landscape, street, and nighttime images captured on both systems:

Canon 5D MIV front Canon 5D MIV screen back Pentax K 5 IIs front Pentax K 5 IIs screen back

Notice the Canon’s richer tonal gradations, smoother bokeh, and superior detail in shadows. The Pentax images display impressive sharpness and dynamic range for an APS-C sensor but occasionally show more noise at higher ISOs.

Connectivity, Storage, and Workflow Integration

The Canon 5D IV features built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, USB 3.0, and dual card slots supporting CF + SD - ideal for redundancy and flexibility. This setup integrates well with professional tethering workflows and quick image transfers on set.

Pentax lacks built-in wireless connectivity (GPS optional) and only includes a single SD card slot, potentially a workflow bottleneck for busy pros.

Price and Value: What’s Your Budget Saying?

At current market prices, the Canon 5D Mark IV hovers around $3,299 body-only, reflecting its professional features and full-frame sensor.

Pentax K-5 IIs can be found for about $749, a fraction of Canon’s price. It offers excellent ruggedness, sensor-level stabilization, and solid image quality well suited for keen enthusiasts or those needing a weather-resistant APS-C DSLR on a budget.

Here’s their value comparison by performance and price:

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

So, which of these venerable DSLRs should you choose? It boils down to your photography needs, budget, and brand ecosystem preferences.

• Choose the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV if you:

  • Demand pro-level image quality with full-frame resolution.
  • Need advanced autofocus, better burst buffering, and video features.
  • Work professionally or in demanding dynamic environments.
  • Value extensive lens selection and seamless workflow integration.
  • Want superior low-light and video performance.

• Opt for the Pentax K-5 IIs if you:

  • Prioritize a rugged, weather-sealed body in a compact APS-C package.
  • Appreciate the extra detail resolution due to no AA filter.
  • Shoot landscapes, macro, or street photography where portability counts.
  • Are budget-conscious but still want great image quality.
  • Value in-body stabilization to complement your lens collection.

Dear Canon, if you’re listening, adding sensor-shift stabilization and slightly smaller body dimensions in future 5D iterations would be a dream. Pentax, meanwhile, deserves credit for offering a durable APS-C option with fantastic image quality and stabilization at an accessible price.

Both have their unique charms and use cases. Ultimately, I’d say you can’t really go wrong - but understanding these nuanced differences ensures you pick the camera that truly supports your creative journey.

I hope this deep dive helps guide your decision. Happy shooting!

If you’re curious for more detailed views or my hands-on video review of these cameras, don’t hesitate to ask!