Canon T5 vs Pentax K-1 II

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Canon T5 vs Pentax K-1 II

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APS-C 332.3mm²
18.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Canon T5 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon T5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the T5.
Compare Canon T5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon T5 conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
36.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 819,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-1 II Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-1 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-1 II.
Compare Pentax K-1 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-1 II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon T6
Compare T5 vs T6
Compare Canon T6 vs Pentax K-1 II

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Differences

Canon T5 advantages over Pentax K-1 II

Less expensive
$399 vs $1997
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Pentax K-1 II advantages over Canon T5

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

670 vs 500 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
105 mm vs 88 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Newer
7 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Higher-res screen
346k vs 154k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Less shutter lag
0.10 vs 0.31 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.50x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
36.4 vs 18.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
33 vs 9
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster JPEG shooting
4.5 fps vs 3.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
77 vs 12 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
4.6 fps vs 3.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
17 vs 6 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
819200 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read T5 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-1 II User Reviews

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Buy the Canon T5

Kit with 18-55mm lens

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Buy the Pentax K-1 II

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 28-105mm Lens

All K-1 II Deals

Review Excerpt

Very good image quality with great color accuracy; Lightweight and compact design; Great value for the money; Canon EF-S mount provides access to a vast array of lens options; Feature Guide and Creative Auto helps new users.
Slow burst mode; Shallow buffer; Without AF assist from flash low-light AF can struggle; Dynamic range and high ISO performance not as good as some competing models; No continuous AF in movie mode; Mono sound; No external mic jack.
Read our Canon T5 Review

Excellent build and comfortable handling; Bright, roomy viewfinder and articulated LCD; Great image quality; Good performance for the class; In-camera stabilization, GPS and Wi-Fi; Incredibly feature-rich design.
Bulkier than APS-C DSLRs; Top ISOs are for the spec sheet, not the real world; JPEGs are a bit punchy by default; Slow startup; Below-average battery life; Only a relatively modest update to the K-1.
Read our Pentax K-1 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A58

Canon T5

Sony A58

$399
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T5 vs Sony A58

Pentax K-1 II

Sony A58

$1747
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$598
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Internal flash

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Sony A58

Compared to Canon T5i

Canon T5

Canon T5i

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$539
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Canon T5 vs Canon T5i

Pentax K-1 II

Canon T5i

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$539
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon T5i

Compared to Canon T6

Canon T5

Canon T6

$399
APS-C

Less expensive

$550
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

Compare Canon T5 vs Canon T6

Pentax K-1 II

Canon T6

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$550
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon T6

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon T5

Canon 5D Mark IV

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Internal flash

$2249
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon T5 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-1 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Nikon D850

Canon T5

Nikon D850

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Internal flash

$2464
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T5 vs Nikon D850

Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D850

$1747
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
High resolution composite

$2464
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D850

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