Pentax K-x vs Sony NEX-5T

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Pentax K-x vs Sony NEX-5T

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APS-C 369.7mm²
12.4 megapixels
ISO 200 - 6400

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

APS-C 366.6mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony NEX-5T Review.
See real-world photos taken with the NEX-5T.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-r
Compare K-x vs K-r

Succeeded by the Sony A5100
Compare NEX-5T vs A5100

Compare PENTAX K-R vs SONY A5100

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Differences

Pentax K-x advantages over Sony NEX-5T

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 5.53 vs 4.78 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

420 vs 330 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Bigger JPEG buffer
25 vs 11 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony NEX-5T advantages over Pentax K-x

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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
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.
NEX-5T test data on DxO Mark K-x test data on DxO Mark

1,015 vs 811 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
38 mm vs 69 mm
Thinner
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Lighter weight
392g vs 791g
Lighter weight
More dots on screen
922k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More pixels
16.1 vs 12.4 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
10.0 fps vs 4.3 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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

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Adorama
Read K-x User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read NEX-5T User Reviews

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Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 16-50mm Lens

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Review Excerpt

Read our Pentax K-x Full Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony NEX-5T, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Sony NEX-5T First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A380

Pentax K-x

Sony DSLR-A380

$702
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$849
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
HDMI out

Compare Pentax K-x vs Sony DSLR-A380

Sony NEX-5T

Sony DSLR-A380

$299
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$849
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony NEX-5T vs Sony DSLR-A380

Compared to Pentax K-7

Pentax K-x

Pentax K-7

$702
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$1300
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
Top deck display

Compare Pentax K-x vs Pentax K-7

Sony NEX-5T

Pentax K-7

$299
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-5T vs Pentax K-7

Compared to Pentax K-r

Pentax K-x

Pentax K-r

$702
APS-C

Less expensive
Shoots 24p video

$850
APS-C

Fast startup
External Mic Jack

Compare Pentax K-x vs Pentax K-r

Sony NEX-5T

Pentax K-r

$299
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-5T vs Pentax K-r

Compared to Sony NEX-3N

Pentax K-x

Sony NEX-3N

$702
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$449
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Pentax K-x vs Sony NEX-3N

Sony NEX-5T

Sony NEX-3N

$299
APS-C

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$449
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony NEX-5T vs Sony NEX-3N

Compared to Sony A5000

Pentax K-x

Sony A5000

$702
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$298
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-x vs Sony A5000

Sony NEX-5T

Sony A5000

$299
APS-C

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

$298
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
Internal flash

Compare Sony NEX-5T vs Sony A5000

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