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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase 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
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-7
  • Successor is Pentax K-5 IIs
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-r Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Pentax K-5 and Pentax K-r, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are sold by Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the K-5 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-5 was announced 2 months before the K-r so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the K-5 matches up against the K-r in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 K-5 K-r 

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

 K-r K-5 

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

 K-5 K-r 
IntroducedDecember 2010March 2011Same age
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution921k921kSame display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax K-5 has got outside dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) and the Pentax K-r has sizing of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Pentax K-5 and Pentax K-r in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the K-5 vs the K-r.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-5 and K-r is 60 and 67 respectively.

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

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The image here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the K-5 and K-r.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Pentax K-5 to produce extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-r Portrait photography info
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
63
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 Street photography factors
Pentax K-r Street photography factors
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
no moving screen
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Sports photography camera
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
55
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-5
Travel photography with Pentax K-r
65
weather sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
47
built-in flash
bad battery (470 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-r
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery (470 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-r as a Vlogging camera
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic port
display is not selfie friendly
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Pentax K-r
 Pentax K-5Pentax K-r
General Information
Make Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-5 Pentax K-r
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-12-18 2011-03-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Prime II Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO 51200 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 740 grams (1.63 lbs) 598 grams (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 82 72
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.1 12.4
DXO Low light rating 1162 755
Other
Battery life 980 pictures 470 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $800 $1,100