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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Superseded the Pentax K-7
  • Replacement is Pentax K-5 IIs
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Introduced June 2016
  • Replacement is Pentax KF
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Pentax K-5 versus Pentax K-70, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are offered by Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the K-5 (16MP) and K-70 (24MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The K-5 was announced 6 years before the K-70 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the K-5 scores vs the K-70 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Pentax K-70

 K-5 K-70 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Pentax K-5

 K-70 K-5 
IntroducedJune 2016December 2010More recent by 66 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax K-5 and Pentax K-70

 K-5 K-70 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution921k921kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-5 has got outside measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) while the Pentax K-70 has dimensions of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") with a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

See the Pentax K-5 versus Pentax K-70 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the K-5 against the K-70.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the K-5 and K-70 is 60 and 62 respectively.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements only by seeing specs. The photograph below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the K-5 and K-70.

All in all, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Pentax K-70 to provide greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older K-5 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-70
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
80
has manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 Street photography info
Pentax K-70 Street photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is fixed
71
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
above average high ISO (102,400)
more heavy than competitors in class (688 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-5
Sports photography with Pentax K-70
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-5 Travel photography features
Pentax K-70 Travel photography features
65
environment sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
64
weather proofing
decent MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (410 shots)
more heavy than competitors in class (688g)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-70 Landscape photography info
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (102,400)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 Vlogging details
Pentax K-70 Vlogging details
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic jack
display is not selfie friendly
71
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (688g)
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Pentax K-70
 Pentax K-5Pentax K-70
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-5 Pentax K-70
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-12-18 2016-06-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime II PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 102400
Highest enhanced ISO 51200 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.63x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 740g (1.63 lbs) 688g (1.52 lbs)
Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 82 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1162 not tested
Other
Battery life 980 photos 410 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 -
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $800 $649