Pentax K-5 vs Sony A6100

Cameras
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Pentax K-5 vs Sony A6100

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APS-C 372.1mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-5 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-5.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A6100 Review.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-5 II
Compare K-5 vs K-5 II
Compare Pentax K-5 II vs Sony A6100

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Differences

Pentax K-5 advantages over Sony A6100

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
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 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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

740 vs 420 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A6100 advantages over Pentax K-5

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) 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
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Newer
5 years vs 14 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Lighter weight
512g vs 1003g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.61x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 27 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Faster JPEG shooting
11.0 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
76 vs 31 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.0 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
33 vs 23 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (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
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
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-5 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A6100 User Reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-5

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

All K-5 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A6100

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 16-50mm and 55-210mm Lenses
Kit with 16-50mm Lens

All A6100 Deals

Review Excerpt

Excellent high ISO performance, one of the best APS-C sensors yet; 6.5 fps burst mode has very good buffer depths; Weather, dust, and cold resistant; In-body Shake Reduction corrects not only horizontal / vertical, but also rotational motion.
Default saturation and contrast a bit high; Auto white balance too warm in tungsten light; Fewer AF points than main competitors; Only a single card slot, and no UHS-I card support (slow buffer clearing).
Read our Pentax K-5 Full Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony A6100.
Read our Sony A6100 Hands-On Preview

The Competition

Compared to Canon T3i

Pentax K-5

Canon T3i

$800
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Canon T3i

Sony A6100

Canon T3i

$648
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$549
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A6100 vs Canon T3i

Compared to Nikon D5100

Pentax K-5

Nikon D5100

$800
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Top deck display

$650
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Nikon D5100

Sony A6100

Nikon D5100

$648
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$650
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A6100 vs Nikon D5100

Compared to Pentax K-30

Pentax K-5

Pentax K-30

$800
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$599
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-30

Sony A6100

Pentax K-30

$648
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$599
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A6100 vs Pentax K-30

Compared to Fujifilm X-T100

Pentax K-5

Fujifilm X-T100

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$599
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Fujifilm X-T100

Sony A6100

Fujifilm X-T100

$648
APS-C

Slower slow-motion
NFC

$599
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A6100 vs Fujifilm X-T100

Compared to Sony A6400

Pentax K-5

Sony A6400

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$798
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Sony A6400

Sony A6100

Sony A6400

$648
APS-C

Less expensive

$798
APS-C

Higher extended ISO

Compare Sony A6100 vs Sony A6400

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