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Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5

Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
 
Pentax X-5 front
Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 Key Specs

Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Replaced the Nikon P510
  • Newer Model is Nikon P530
Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Released August 2012
Photography Glossary

Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Nikon and Pentax. The image resolution of the P520 (18MP) and the X-5 (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The P520 was manufactured 6 months after the X-5 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick view of how the P520 grades against the X-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Pentax X-5

 P520 X-5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Nikon P520

 X-5 P520 

Common features in the Nikon P520 and Pentax X-5

 P520 X-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2013August 2012Similar generation
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera often, you should factor its weight and size. The Nikon P520 has physical measurements of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") and a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Pentax X-5 has specifications of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") accompanied by a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs).

See the Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the P520 and the X-5.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the P520 and X-5 is 66 and 65 respectively.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions just by going over a spec sheet. The image below might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the P520 and X-5.

As you can see, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Nikon P520 to deliver greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively.

Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 sensor size comparison

Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P520 Portrait photography information
Pentax X-5 Portrait photography information
41
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
43
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon P520 Street photography features
Pentax X-5 Street photography features
51
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than competitors (550g)
50
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than average in class (595 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon P520
Sports photography with Pentax X-5
46
amazing zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
52
long zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon P520
Travel photography with Pentax X-5
57
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (1000mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery (200 shots)
heavier than competitors (550 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
53
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
very long zoom (580mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (595 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon P520 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax X-5 as a Landscape photography camera
46
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
47
has manual focus
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P520 Vlogging factors
Pentax X-5 Vlogging factors
57
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than competitors (550 grams)
26
reasonably wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (595 grams)
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Nikon P520 vs Pentax X-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P520 and Pentax X-5
 Nikon Coolpix P520Pentax X-5
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix P520 Pentax X-5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-29 2012-08-22
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1000mm (41.7x) 22-580mm (26.4x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 230 thousand dots
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 9.10 m
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 550 grams (1.21 lb) 595 grams (1.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photos 330 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL5 4 x AA
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $380 $230