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Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75
Nikon D500 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 1640000)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 860g - 147 x 115 x 81mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Replaced the Nikon D300S
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-5
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Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Nikon D500 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, both Advanced DSLR cameras by rivals Nikon and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the D500 (21MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The D500 was revealed 2 years after the K-5 IIs which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the D500 matches up against the K-5 IIs in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 D500 K-5 IIs 
RevealedJanuary 2016June 2013More modern by 32 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution2359k921kCrisper display (+1438k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Nikon D500

 K-5 IIs D500 

Common features in the Nikon D500 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 D500 K-5 IIs 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon D500 comes with outer dimensions of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") along with a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D500 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the D500 versus the K-5 IIs.

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D500 and K-5 IIs is 56 and 60 respectively.

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes only by viewing specifications. The image here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the D500 and K-5 IIs.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Nikon D500 to provide you with greater detail because of its extra 5MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The newer D500 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D500 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography details
79
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (21MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
68
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
environment proof
very good ISO range (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is fixed
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Nikon D500 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography highlights
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (21 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery power (1,240 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D500 Travel photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography details
68
better than average battery power (1,240 per charge)
environment proof
supports bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
decent megapixels (21MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
65
environment sealing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
decent megapixels (21 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proof
better than average battery power (1,240 CIPA)
has double storage slots
does not have image stabilization
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D500 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Vlogging camera
31
touchscreen capability
offers face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes mic port
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Nikon D500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D500 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Nikon D500Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Company Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D500 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2016-01-05 2013-06-04
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 5 Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 5568 x 3712 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 51200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 1640000 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 50 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 153 11
Cross type focus points 99 9
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 309 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3.2" 3"
Resolution of display 2,359 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 860 gr (1.90 lb) 760 gr (1.68 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 84 82
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 14.1
DXO Low light rating 1324 1208
Other
Battery life 1240 pictures 980 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Dual One
Retail cost $1,497 $749