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Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5N
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively close and both cameras have the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-500 was announced 3 years later than the NEX-5 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the K-500 scores vs the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Sony NEX-5

 K-500 NEX-5 
AnnouncedNovember 2013June 2010More recent by 43 months
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Pentax K-500

 NEX-5 K-500 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Sony NEX-5

 K-500 NEX-5 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Pentax K-500 provides physical dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the K-500 and the NEX-5.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-500 and NEX-5 is 64 and 89 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by looking through technical specs. The visual here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the K-500 and NEX-5.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Pentax K-500 to result in more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer K-500 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-500
Street photography with Sony NEX-5
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
76
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography advice
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
good battery (710 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (6.0 fps)
52
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
67
good battery (710 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
59
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW formats
good battery (710 per charge)
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
resolution is good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging factors
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Sony NEX-5
 Pentax K-500Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-500 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-11-27 2010-06-07
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME M Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 51600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 25
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Sony E
Amount of lenses 151 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 646 gr (1.42 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 69
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 12.2
DXO Low light score 1087 796
Other
Battery life 710 images 330 images
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NPFW50
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail price $600 $599