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Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
65
Imaging
52
Features
50
Overall
51
Nikon D5000 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Nikon D5000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 590g - 127 x 104 x 80mm
  • Announced June 2009
  • Succeeded the Nikon D60
  • Replacement is Nikon D5100
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax K-5
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Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Nikon and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the D5000 (12MP) and K-5 II (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D5000 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the K-5 II and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Nikon D5000 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the D5000 grades against the K-5 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5000 over the Pentax K-5 II

 D5000 K-5 II 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Nikon D5000

 K-5 II D5000 
LaunchedJune 2013June 2009Fresher by 48 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D5000 and Pentax K-5 II

 D5000 K-5 II 
Manually focus More exact focus
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D5000 features external measurements of 127mm x 104mm x 80mm (5.0" x 4.1" x 3.1") with a weight of 590 grams (1.30 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 II has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check the Nikon D5000 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 use at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the D5000 compared to the K-5 II.

Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the D5000 and K-5 II is 65 and 60 respectively.

Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the D5000 and K-5 II.

Clearly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Pentax K-5 II to result in more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older D5000 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5000 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Portrait photography camera
63
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
74
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5000 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Street photography camera
66
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5000 Sports photography features
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography features
42
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery power (510 CIPA)
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5000 Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography info
56
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery power (510 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
65
environment proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5000 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Landscape photography camera
52
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7")
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (510 shots)
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5000 Vlogging details
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging details
52
selfie friendly screen
comes with face detection focusing
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Nikon D5000 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5000 and Pentax K-5 II
 Nikon D5000Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D5000 Pentax K-5 II
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-06-12 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact 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 area 372.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 4288 x 2848 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 309 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 17.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 590 gr (1.30 lbs) 760 gr (1.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 127 x 104 x 80mm (5.0" x 4.1" x 3.1") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 82
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 14.1
DXO Low light rating 868 1235
Other
Battery life 510 photos 980 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL9a D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $630 $830