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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-7
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Pentax Q
  • Refreshed by Pentax Q7
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are created by Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the K-5 (16MP) and Q10 (12MP) and the K-5 (APS-C) and Q10 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The K-5 was unveiled 21 months before the Q10 making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the K-5 scores versus the Q10 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Pentax Q10

 K-5 Q10 
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Pentax K-5

 Q10 K-5 
IntroducedSeptember 2012December 2010More recent by 21 months

Common features in the Pentax K-5 and Pentax Q10

 K-5 Q10 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-5 has outer measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q10 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the K-5 versus the Q10.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the K-5 and Q10 is 60 and 92 respectively.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the K-5 and Q10.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The K-5 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax K-5 will offer greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older K-5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Portrait photography camera
73
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
48
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-5
Street photography with Pentax Q10
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is fixed
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (200 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 Sports photography factors
Pentax Q10 Sports photography factors
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
36
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (270 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-5
Travel photography with Pentax Q10
65
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
60
lighter than competition (200g)
has built in flash
low battery power (270 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Landscape photography camera
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
54
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (270 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 Vlogging details
Pentax Q10 Vlogging details
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (200g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone support
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Pentax K-5 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Pentax Q10
 Pentax K-5Pentax Q10
General Information
Company Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-5 Pentax Q10
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2010-12-18 2012-09-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime II -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Highest boosted ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Pentax Q
Number of lenses 151 8
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD monitor TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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 424 (25, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 740g (1.63 pounds) 200g (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 82 49
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.1 10.9
DXO Low light rating 1162 183
Other
Battery life 980 photos 270 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 D-LI68
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $800 $350