Nikon D800 vs Pentax K-5

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Nikon D800 vs Pentax K-5, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the D800 (36MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the D800 (Full frame) and K-5 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The D800 was unveiled 19 months after the K-5 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the D800 matches up vs the K-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon D800 & Pentax K-5. The full galleries are available at Nikon D800 Gallery & Pentax K-5 Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon D800 comes with outside measurements of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D800 vs Pentax K-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the D800 compared to the K-5.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the D800 and K-5 is 54 and 60 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions just by checking specifications. The pic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the D800 and K-5.

To sum up, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The D800 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Nikon D800 will give you greater detail having an extra 20 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more modern D800 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.