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Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
55
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Nikon D300S front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Nikon D300S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 938g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Announced November 2009
  • Superseded the Nikon D300
  • Updated by Nikon D600
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the D300S (12MP) and K-5 II (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The D300S was unveiled 4 years earlier than the K-5 II which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the D300S matches up versus the K-5 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D300S over the Pentax K-5 II

 D300S K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Nikon D300S

 K-5 II D300S 
IntroducedJune 2013November 2009More modern by 43 months
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D300S and Pentax K-5 II

 D300S K-5 II 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D300S has exterior dimensions of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") and a weight of 938 grams (2.07 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 II has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Examine the Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the D300S vs the K-5 II.

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D300S and K-5 II is 55 and 60 respectively.

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The pic here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the D300S and K-5 II.

All in all, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax K-5 II to resolve greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged D300S is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300S Portrait photography features
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography features
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D300S Street photography info
Pentax K-5 II Street photography info
52
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (938g)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300S Sports photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography advice
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
good sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300S Travel photography features
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography features
48
weather proofing
has built in flash
more heavy than average in class (938g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
65
environment proof
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300S Landscape photography information
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography information
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3")
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
two card slots
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300S as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Vlogging camera
22
provides face detection autofocus
does have external microphone socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
more heavy than average in class (938g)
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Nikon D300S vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300S and Pentax K-5 II
 Nikon D300SPentax K-5 II
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon D300S Pentax K-5 II
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-11-16 2013-06-04
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4288 x 2848 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 51 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 309 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (24 fps), 320 x 240 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 938g (2.07 lb) 760g (1.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 70 82
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 14.1
DXO Low light score 787 1235
Other
Battery life 950 photos 980 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL3e D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash Type I/SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Two Single
Launch pricing $1,630 $830