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Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75
Nikon D500 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D Key Specs

Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • 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
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Superseded the Nikon D300S
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Superseded the Pentax K10D
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Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D Overview

Here is a thorough review of the Nikon D500 and Pentax K20D, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the D500 (21MP) and K20D (15MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The D500 was announced 7 years later than the K20D and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the D500 scores against the K20D for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Pentax K20D

 D500 K20D 
ReleasedJanuary 2016June 2008Fresher by 92 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution2359k230kClearer display (+2129k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Nikon D500

 K20D D500 

Common features in the Nikon D500 and Pentax K20D

 D500 K20D 
Manual focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D500 offers outside measurements of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") and a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) while the Pentax K20D has dimensions of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D500 and Pentax K20D in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the D500 against the K20D.

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the D500 and K20D is 56 and 59 respectively.

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the D500 and K20D.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Nikon D500 to deliver greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The more recent D500 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D500 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K20D Portrait photography factors
79
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D500 Street photography information
Pentax K20D Street photography information
68
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus via touch
weather proofing
very good high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D500
Sports photography with Pentax K20D
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery life (1,240 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D500 Travel photography info
Pentax K20D Travel photography info
68
good battery life (1,240 CIPA)
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
megapixel count decent (21MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
64
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D500 Landscape photography features
Pentax K20D Landscape photography features
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3.2")
megapixel count decent (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
good battery life (1,240 per charge)
has double storage slots
does not have image stabilization
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D500
Vlogging with Pentax K20D
31
touchscreen enabled
has face detection focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic port
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
9
no video shooting
Photography Glossary

Nikon D500 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D500 and Pentax K20D
 Nikon D500Pentax K20D
General Information
Company Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D500 Pentax K20D
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2016-01-05 2008-06-25
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 5568 x 3712 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Max enhanced ISO 1640000 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 153 11
Cross type focus points 99 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 309 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 2,359 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 860 gr (1.90 lb) 800 gr (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 84 65
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 11.1
DXO Low light rating 1324 639
Other
Battery life 1240 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL15 D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant) SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots Two One
Launch pricing $1,497 $700