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Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Nikon D5500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 420g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Older Model is Nikon D5300
  • Refreshed by Nikon D5600
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax K-30
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Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by brands Nikon and Pentax. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and K-50 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D5500 was unveiled 14 months later than the K-50 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the D5500 grades against the K-50 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Pentax K-50

 D5500 K-50 
RevealedJanuary 2015November 2013Fresher by 14 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Nikon D5500

 K-50 D5500 

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Pentax K-50

 D5500 K-50 
Focus manually More precise focus

Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D5500 has got exterior dimensions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) while the Pentax K-50 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the D5500 versus the K-50.

Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the D5500 and K-50 is 71 and 63 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by going over specs. The photograph here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the D5500 and K-50.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Nikon D5500 to deliver greater detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more recent D5500 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5500 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography features
79
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D5500
Street photography with Pentax K-50
75
screen articulates
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
lighter than average (420 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
very good ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
heavier than competition (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Sports photography camera
68
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (820 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Travel photography highlights
81
better than average battery pack (820 per charge)
lighter than average (420g)
boasts touch to focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
56
weather proof
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
heavier than competition (650 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Landscape photography camera
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
decent megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (820 per charge)
no image stabilization
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5500
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone jack
lighter than average (420g)
no image stabilization
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competition (650 grams)
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Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Pentax K-50
 Nikon D5500Pentax K-50
General Information
Company Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D5500 Pentax K-50
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2015-01-06 2013-11-27
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 4 PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 39 11
Cross type focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support 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 3.2" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest 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
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 420g (0.93 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 84 79
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 13.0
DXO Low light rating 1438 1120
Other
Battery life 820 images 410 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14,EN-EL14a D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $700 $610