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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Superseded the Nikon D5000
  • Refreshed by Nikon D5200
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed December 2009
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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Nikon D5100 versus Pentax K-x, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the D5100 (16MP) and K-x (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The D5100 was announced 17 months later than the K-x which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the D5100 scores against the K-x with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Pentax K-x

 D5100 K-x 
RevealedApril 2011December 2009Fresher by 17 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Nikon D5100

 K-x D5100 

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-x

 D5100 K-x 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon D5100 provides outside measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) while the Pentax K-x has sizing of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D5100 versus Pentax K-x in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the D5100 and the K-x.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the D5100 and K-x is 66 and 69 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing simply by researching technical specs. The visual below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the D5100 and K-x.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Nikon D5100 to provide you with more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The younger D5100 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5100 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-x Portrait photography highlights
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5100 Street photography info
Pentax K-x Street photography info
67
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5100 Sports photography details
Pentax K-x Sports photography details
64
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
good battery (660 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery power (1,900 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D5100
Travel photography with Pentax K-x
77
good battery (660 CIPA)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
54
great battery power (1,900 per charge)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D5100
Landscape photography with Pentax K-x
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3")
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (660 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (1,900 per charge)
tiny screen (2.7")
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5100 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-x Vlogging factors
69
display is selfie friendly
has face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic socket
lack of image stabilization
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Pentax K-x
 Nikon D5100Pentax K-x
General Information
Brand Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon D5100 Pentax K-x
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-04-26 2009-12-23
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 2 Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 370.5mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 1 -
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" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology 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
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 16.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 560 gr (1.23 lbs) 580 gr (1.28 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 72
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 12.5
DXO Low light score 1183 811
Other
Battery life 660 photos 1900 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $0 $600