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Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68
Pentax K-5 IIs front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-5
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Pentax. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-5 IIs (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the K-5 IIs (APS-C) and MX-1 (1/1.7") boast different sensor size.

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The K-5 IIs was introduced very close to the MX-1 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the K-5 IIs scores against the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Pentax MX-1

 K-5 IIs MX-1 
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 MX-1 K-5 IIs 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax K-5 IIs and Pentax MX-1

 K-5 IIs MX-1 
LaunchedJune 2013July 2013Same generation
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-5 IIs features outside dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

See the Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the K-5 IIs and the MX-1.

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-5 IIs and MX-1 is 60 and 84 respectively.

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions purely by going through specifications. The pic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-5 IIs and MX-1.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The K-5 IIs having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax K-5 IIs will show greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images more aggressively.

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
42
focusing manually
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography info
Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than average (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography features
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography features
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
great battery (290 shots)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
65
environment proof
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
61
great battery (290 shots)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (391g)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
delivers RAW files
environment proof
55
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
great battery (290 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging info
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging info
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
33
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no external mic support
heavier than average (391g)
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Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 IIs and Pentax MX-1
 Pentax K-5 IIsPentax MX-1
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-5 IIs Pentax MX-1
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-06-04 2013-07-01
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime II -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
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 25
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 760 grams (1.68 lb) 391 grams (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 82 49
DXO Color Depth score 23.9 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 14.1 11.3
DXO Low light score 1208 208
Other
Battery life 980 shots 290 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $749 $400