• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 28.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Pentax K-5 IIs advantages over Samsung NX1

  • Less expensive
    $1200 vs $2800 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.81 vs 3.63 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 740 vs 500 shots
    Capture more photos

Samsung NX1 advantages over Pentax K-5 IIs

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,363 vs 1,208 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.69x vs 0.61x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    28.2 vs 16.3 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
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    15.2 fps vs 6.7 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    53 vs 28 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    15.1 fps vs 6.7 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • 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
  • 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
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Samsung NX1

Review Excerpt

  • Noticeably better sharpness than standard K-5 II; Compact yet control-rich body packs in the features; Updated autofocus system focuses in near-darkness; Fully weather-sealed; Very good dynamic range; In-body image stabilization; Dual-axis level with horizon correction.

  • Prone to moire, aliasing, and false color artifacts; Can seem intimidating at first; Fewer autofocus points than competitors; Doesn't take advantage of high-speed UHS-I flash cards; Movie feature set is very dated and file sizes huge.

  • Very good, high-resolution image quality; Excellent high ISO performance with RAW files; Very good dynamic range; Blazing fast 15fps full-res burst mode; Deep buffer; Great build quality & comfortable ergonomics; Lots of physical controls; Great battery life; Fast single-shot AF.

  • Continuous AF performance still not as robust as competing DSLRs; Aggressive JPEG noise reduction at high ISOs; JPEG colors and saturation less pleasing at higher ISOs; H.265 video codec can be difficult to work with.

The Competition

Compared to Sony A35

Pentax K-5 IIs
Sony A35
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $567
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
Samsung NX1
Sony A35
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $567
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection

Compared to Sony A57

Pentax K-5 IIs
Sony A57
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
Samsung NX1
Sony A57
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection

Compared to Sony A37

Pentax K-5 IIs
Sony A37
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
Samsung NX1
Sony A37
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection

Compared to Fujifilm X-T2

Pentax K-5 IIs
Fujifilm X-T2
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
Samsung NX1
Fujifilm X-T2
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Fast startup
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Thinner

Compared to Fujifilm X-T3

Pentax K-5 IIs
Fujifilm X-T3
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1299
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
Samsung NX1
Fujifilm X-T3
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • NFC
  • $1299
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Newer
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