• APS-C 368.2mm2
  • 16.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800

Buy From

Differences

Nikon D5100 advantages over Pentax K-01

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 2.4 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 660 vs 500 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Less shutter lag
    0.27 vs 0.80 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Wider angle kit lens
    27 mm vs 61 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    100 vs 9 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Pentax K-01 advantages over Nikon D5100

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Thinner
    58 mm vs 79 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    611g vs 829g
    Lighter weight
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.9 fps vs 3.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • 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

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Side-mounted tilt / swivel LCD screen; same sensor and processing as the Nikon D7000; good speed and battery life; in-camera HDR and filter effects; Full HD video capture with aperture control; audio levels control and external microphone jack.

  • AF-S lens mount doesn't offer autofocus with screw-drive lenses; popup flash isn't the greatest; no built-in wireless flash control; HDR function doesn't microalign source images.

  • Very good image quality and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control.

  • Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting.

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX10

Nikon D5100
Samsung NX10
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Thinner
  • Lighter weight
Pentax K-01
Samsung NX10
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Sony A55

Nikon D5100
Sony A55
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas
Pentax K-01
Sony A55
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Sony A33

Nikon D5100
Sony A33
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas
Pentax K-01
Sony A33
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Sony A57

Nikon D5100
Sony A57
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Pentax K-01
Sony A57
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Samsung NX20

Nikon D5100
Samsung NX20
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Thinner
Pentax K-01
Samsung NX20
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
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