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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Old Model is Pentax K-7
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Pentax K-5 versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the K-5 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the K-5 (APS-C) and MX-1 (1/1.7") have different sensor dimensions.

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The K-5 was launched 3 years before the MX-1 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the K-5 scores against the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 K-5 MX-1 
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

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

 MX-1 K-5 
IntroducedJuly 2013December 2010More modern by 30 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

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

 K-5 MX-1 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-5 comes with outside dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-5 versus Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the K-5 against the MX-1.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-5 and MX-1 is 60 and 84 respectively.

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

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The pic below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-5 and MX-1.

As you can tell, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The K-5 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Pentax K-5 will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged K-5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
73
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
42
focusing manually
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 Street photography features
Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
no moving screen
65
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than average in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 Sports photography information
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography information
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
great battery life (290 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-5 Travel photography info
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
65
weather proof
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have selfie friendly display
61
great battery life (290 shots)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (391g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-5
Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
55
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 Vlogging details
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic port
doesn't have selfie friendly display
33
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
more heavy than average in class (391 grams)
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Pentax MX-1
 Pentax K-5Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-5 Pentax MX-1
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-12-18 2013-07-01
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime II -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection 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)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (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 format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 740 grams (1.63 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 Overall score 82 49
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 14.1 11.3
DXO Low light score 1162 208
Other
Battery life 980 images 290 images
Battery form 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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $800 $400