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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Introduced April 2011
  • Old Model is Nikon D5000
  • Refreshed by Nikon D5200
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Nikon D5100 versus Pentax K-r, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the D5100 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The D5100 was unveiled 2 months later than the K-r and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the D5100 grades versus the K-r in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Pentax K-r

 D5100 K-r 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Nikon D5100

 K-r D5100 

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-r

 D5100 K-r 
LaunchedApril 2011March 2011Similar generation
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution921k921kThe same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon D5100 has outer measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) and the Pentax K-r has measurements of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D5100 versus Pentax K-r in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the D5100 vs the K-r.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D5100 and K-r is 66 and 67 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the D5100 and K-r.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Nikon D5100 to give extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5100 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-r Portrait photography factors
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
63
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-r Street photography highlights
67
screen articulates fully
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 Sports photography details
Pentax K-r Sports photography details
64
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery (660 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
55
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D5100
Travel photography with Pentax K-r
77
better than average battery (660 shots)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
47
has built in flash
not so great battery (470 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5100 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-r Landscape photography features
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (660 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (470 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5100 Vlogging information
Pentax K-r Vlogging information
69
selfie friendly screen
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic port
lack of image stabilization
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-r
 Nikon D5100Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon D5100 Pentax K-r
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-04-26 2011-03-11
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 2 Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 370.5mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 309 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 gr (1.23 pounds) 598 gr (1.32 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 72
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 12.4
DXO Low light score 1183 755
Other
Battery life 660 photographs 470 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $1,100