Nikon D7000 vs Pentax K-1

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Nikon D7000 vs Pentax K-1

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APS-C 368.2mm²
16.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Nikon D7000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D7000.

35mm 861.6mm²
36.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 204,800

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

Succeeded by the Nikon D7100
Compare D7000 vs D7100

Succeeded by the Pentax K-1 II
Compare K-1 vs K-1 II

Compare NIKON D7100 vs PENTAX K-1 II

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Differences

Nikon D7000 advantages over Pentax K-1

Less expensive
$1500 vs $1800 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

1050 vs 760 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Faster JPEG shooting
5.9 fps vs 4.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
5.9 fps vs 4.6 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Pentax K-1 advantages over Nikon D7000

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
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
K-1 test data on DxO Mark D7000 test data on DxO Mark

3,280 vs 1,167 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 9
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Newer
9 years vs 13 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.24 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
36.4 vs 16.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
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
Bigger JPEG buffer
74 vs 19 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
17 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
204800 vs 25600 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
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
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

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Buy the Nikon D7000

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Buy the Pentax K-1

Review Excerpt

Very good image quality; Better than average noise vs. detail handling at high ISOs; Very good dynamic range in JPEGs, excellent in RAW files; Lots of high-end features in a relatively compact body; 6 fps burst mode.
Viewfinder not as accurate as specified; Viewfinder doesn't show ISO unless adjusting; No live histogram in Live View mode; No phase-detect Live View AF mode.
Read our Nikon D7000 Full Review

Unlocks the full potential of full-frame Pentax lenses; Excellent image quality; Great ergonomics and build; Very compact for full-frame; Decent performance; Fast autofocus with great low-light capabilities; Very wide sensitivity range; Bright, accurate viewfinder; Articulated LCD; Stabilization, Wi-Fi and GPS in-camera
No built-in flash strobe; Quite heavy compared to APS-C flagships; Somewhat soft images and blown highlights by default in JPEG mode; Warm Auto white balance indoors; Slow startup and buffer clearing; Small top-deck status display; Weak viewfinder illumination; Below-average battery life for DSLR
Read our Pentax K-1 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 60D

Nikon D7000

Canon 60D

$699
APS-C

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

$889
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon D7000 vs Canon 60D

Pentax K-1

Canon 60D

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$889
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Canon 60D

Compared to Pentax K-30

Nikon D7000

Pentax K-30

$699
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$599
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D7000 vs Pentax K-30

Pentax K-1

Pentax K-30

$1800
35mm

Larger sensor
Tiltable Screen

$599
APS-C

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-30

Compared to Pentax K-5 II

Nikon D7000

Pentax K-5 II

$699
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$699
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon D7000 vs Pentax K-5 II

Pentax K-1

Pentax K-5 II

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-5 II

Compared to Canon 5DS R

Nikon D7000

Canon 5DS R

$699
APS-C

Bigger pixels
More dynamic range

$1499
35mm

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D7000 vs Canon 5DS R

Pentax K-1

Canon 5DS R

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1499
35mm

Fast startup
More cross-type AF points

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Canon 5DS R

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D7000

Pentax K-1 II

$699
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D7000 vs Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1

Pentax K-1 II

$1800
35mm

$1747
35mm

Higher extended ISO

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-1 II

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