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Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-5

5.2 in
4.06 in
Nikon D90 Digital Camera
Nikon D90
5.2 in
3.8 in
Pentax K-5 Digital Camera
Pentax K-5
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
40
4.2 out of 5
13 user ratings
5 stars
53 %
4 stars
30 %
3 stars
7 %
2 stars
7 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
15
4.1 out of 5
8 user ratings
5 stars
50 %
4 stars
37 %
3 stars
12 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
58
4.1 out of 5
58 user ratings
5 stars
37 %
4 stars
39 %
3 stars
18 %
2 stars
3 %
1 stars
0 %
44
4.0 out of 5
44 user ratings
5 stars
36 %
4 stars
34 %
3 stars
27 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %

Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXAPS-C
Sensor size0.93 in0.92 in
Sensor photo detectors13.0 Mpx17.0 Mpx
Effective pixels12.0 Mpx16.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution4288 x 2848 px4928 x 3264 px
Other resolutions
  • 3216x2136
  • 2144x1424
  • 3936x2624
  • 3072x2048
  • 1728x1152

Image

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 3200
  • 6400
  • 100
  • 1600
  • Auto
ISO Autoyesyes
ISO minimum20080
ISO maximum640051200
Boosted ISO maximum640051200
Maximum image resolution4288 x 2848 px4928 x 3264 px
White balance presets129
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Sunny
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Daylight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Tungsten
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Muted
  • Pastel
  • Sepia
Image stabilizernono
Image stabilization typeNoSensor-shift
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
HDRnoyes
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Lens mountNikon F
  • Pentax KA
  • Pentax KAF
  • Pentax KAF2
Optical zoom5.8 x3.0 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
Maximum aperture3.53.5
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAuto/ManualAuto
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Brightness adjustmentyesyes
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
Autofocus
  • Face detection
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points1111
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)1111
Image stabiliserLens based onlyBuilt-in
Filter diameter2.64 in2.05 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Screen size3.0 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDnono
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots920000921000
Touch screennono
Field of view100.0 %170.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage96.0 %100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.94 x32.0 x
Separate info displayyesyes

Photography features

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures23
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyesyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 12
Histogramyesyes
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
WB Bracketing
Yes
No
Subject / scene modesyesno
Flash sync speed1/200s1/180s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range1713
Flash modes
  • High-speed Sync
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
Flash metering systemi-TTLP-TTL
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive4.5 fps7.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Close-up
  • Night portrait
  • Portrait
  • Sports
  • Landscape
  • Backlight
  • Portrait
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 12
Speed (JPEG)4.5 fps7.0 fps
Speed (RAW)4.5 fps7.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 2.0±EV0.3 - 2.0±EV

Videography features

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Maximum resolution1280 x 720 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 320 x 216
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
HD typeHDFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • AVI
  • M-JPEG
AVI
Analog signal format systemNTSC
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Max frame rate (highest resolution)24.0 fps25.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate24.0 fps25.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Built-in microphonenoyes
Microphone typeMonoStereo
Voice recordingyesyes

Design

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Body typeSLRCompact
Body material
  • Aluminium
  • Plastic
  • Magnesium
  • Stainless steel
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealednoyes

Dimensions

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Weight21.87 oz23.3 oz
Width5.2 in5.2 in
Height4.06 in3.8 in
Depth3.03 in2.9 in

Storage

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SD
  • SDHC
Memory slots11
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.21
  • RAW

Power

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)850980
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesyes

Connectivity

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
HDMI connector typeMiniMini
USB version2.02.0
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesno
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nono
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D90Nikon D90
Pentax K-5Pentax K-5
Timelapse recordingyesyes
Orientation sensoryesyes
Calendaryesyes
Date imprintingyesyes
Album organizationyesyes
Energy Star certifiednono
Frameyesyes
Languages support
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
Image editing modesTrimming
  • Crop
  • Resizing
  • Rotating

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D90

          Often compared with Pentax K-5