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Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5

Portability
56
Imaging
57
Features
70
Overall
62
Canon EOS 7D front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Canon 7D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 860g - 148 x 111 x 74mm
  • Released November 2009
  • New Model is Canon 7D MII
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Superseded the Pentax K-7
  • Renewed by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the 7D (18MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is fairly close and they use the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The 7D was released 13 months earlier than the K-5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the 7D scores against the K-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 7D over the Pentax K-5

 7D K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Canon 7D

 K-5 7D 
RevealedDecember 2010November 2009Fresher by 13 months
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Canon 7D and Pentax K-5

 7D K-5 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon 7D enjoys external dimensions of 148mm x 111mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 2.9") and a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the 7D vs the K-5.

Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 7D and K-5 is 56 and 60 respectively.

Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 7D and K-5.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Canon 7D to result in more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older 7D will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 7D Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography highlights
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (18MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 7D as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Canon 7D Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 Sports photography info
64
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count decent (18MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (800 CIPA)
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon 7D Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 Travel photography info
53
environment sealing
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (800 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
65
weather proof
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 7D
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5
63
focusing manually
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count decent (18MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (800 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 7D Vlogging details
Pentax K-5 Vlogging details
28
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone port
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone support
display is not selfie friendly
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Canon 7D vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 7D and Pentax K-5
 Canon EOS 7DPentax K-5
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS 7D Pentax K-5
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-11-06 2010-12-18
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Dual Digic 4 Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 51200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 19 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF/EF-S Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 326 151
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT color LCD, liquid-crystal monitor TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 860 gr (1.90 lbs) 740 gr (1.63 lbs)
Dimensions 148 x 111 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 2.9") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 82
DXO Color Depth rating 22.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 14.1
DXO Low light rating 854 1162
Other
Battery life 800 shots 980 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive cards SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $1,050 $800