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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
66
Imaging
56
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Launched April 2011
  • Previous Model is Nikon D5000
  • Refreshed by Nikon D5200
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Pentax K-500

 D5100 K-500 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Nikon D5100

 K-500 D5100 
IntroducedNovember 2013April 2011More recent by 31 months

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-500

 D5100 K-500 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution921k921kEqual display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

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

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

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.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5100 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography details
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography information
Pentax K-500 Street photography information
67
screen articulates
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D5100
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
63
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery power (660 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery (710 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D5100
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
77
great battery power (660 per charge)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
67
better than average battery (710 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5100 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography highlights
72
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (660 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
69
screen is selfie friendly
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone port
does not have image stabilization
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no mic support
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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-500
 Nikon D5100Pentax K-500
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon D5100 Pentax K-500
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-04-26 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 2 PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 309 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 grams (1.23 lbs) 646 grams (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 79
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 13.1
DXO Low light score 1183 1087
Other
Battery life 660 photographs 710 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack AA
Battery model EN-EL14 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch price $0 $600