Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Below, we will be matching up the Nikon D5500 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Nikon and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The D5500 was revealed 20 months later than the K-5 IIs which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D5500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the D5500 matches up vs the K-5 IIs for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon D5500 & Pentax K-5 IIs. The full galleries are available at Nikon D5500 Gallery & Pentax K-5 IIs Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon D5500 comes with outer dimensions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 IIs has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Examine the Nikon D5500 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the D5500 compared to the K-5 IIs.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D5500 and K-5 IIs is 71 and 60 respectively.

Normally, its hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the D5500 and K-5 IIs.

As you can see, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Nikon D5500 to provide you with extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more modern D5500 provides an advantage in sensor technology.