Clicky

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
51
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix S6500 front
 
Pentax X-5 front
Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 Key Specs

Nikon S6500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-300mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 95 x 58 x 26mm
  • Launched January 2013
Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Announced August 2012
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Nikon S6500 versus Pentax X-5, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Pentax. The resolution of the S6500 (16MP) and the X-5 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

The S6500 was released 5 months after the X-5 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Nikon S6500 being a Compact camera and the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the S6500 scores vs the X-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon S6500 over the Pentax X-5

 S6500 X-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Nikon S6500

 X-5 S6500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon S6500 and Pentax X-5

 S6500 X-5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013August 2012Same age
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and size. The Nikon S6500 offers physical measurements of 95mm x 58mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax X-5 has specifications of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") having a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S6500 versus Pentax X-5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the S6500 versus the X-5.

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S6500 and X-5 is 92 and 65 respectively.

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching technical specs. The picture here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S6500 and X-5.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size and the identical MP so you can expect comparable quality of images though you should always take the age of the cameras into account.

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 sensor size comparison

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S6500 Portrait photography information
Pentax X-5 Portrait photography information
44
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Street Comparison

Nikon S6500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (250g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than others (595g)
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Sports Comparison

Nikon S6500 Sports photography factors
Pentax X-5 Sports photography factors
50
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
53
amazing zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
has tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S6500
Travel photography with Pentax X-5
69
lighter than others (250g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (22mm)
very long zoom (580mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (595g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Landscape Comparison

Nikon S6500 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax X-5 as a Landscape photography camera
50
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
47
has manual focus
quite wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S6500 Vlogging details
Pentax X-5 Vlogging details
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (250g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
27
quite wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no mic port
heavier than others (595 grams)
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Nikon S6500 vs Pentax X-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S6500 and Pentax X-5
 Nikon Coolpix S6500Pentax X-5
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix S6500 Pentax X-5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-08 2012-08-22
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 22-580mm (26.4x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology AMOLED display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 230 thousand dot
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 9.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 595g (1.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 95 x 58 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.0") 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 330 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $170 $230