Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500

Let's take a deeper look at the Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Pentax. The resolution of the D5100 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is fairly similar and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D5100 was launched 3 years before the K-500 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the D5100 scores versus the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-500. The complete galleries are provided at Nikon D5100 Gallery and Pentax K-500 Gallery.

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon D5100 comes with physical measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the D5100 against the K-500.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the D5100 and K-500 is 66 and 64 respectively.

Usually, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The photograph here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the D5100 and K-500.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you should expect similar quality of pictures though you should always take the production date of the products into consideration. The older D5100 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.