• APS-C 372.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 12.4 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 6400

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Differences

Nikon D300S advantages over Pentax K-x

  • Fast startup
    ~0.30 vs 0.6 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 950 vs 420 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More cross-type AF points
    15 vs 9
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Pentaprism viewfinder
    Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
    Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.63x vs 0.57x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • More AF points
    51 vs 11
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.1 fps vs 4.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Pentax K-x advantages over Nikon D300S

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Less shutter lag
    0.10 vs 0.23 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Higher extended ISO
    12800 vs 6400 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
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • 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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Buy the Pentax K-x

Review Excerpt

  • Rugged construction; 51-point AF system capable of sophisticated AF tracking; Large, bright optical viewfinder; 7 fps JPEG or 12-bit RAW burst mode; HD Video capture.

  • 14-bit RAW mode slows continuous shooting from 7 fps to 2.7 fps; Somewhat slow AF for a camera at this level, especially in 51-point auto-area mode; Video capture tops out at 720p24.

  • Read our Nikon D300S Full Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D90

Nikon D300S
Nikon D90
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • External Mic Jack
  • More cross-type AF points
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Nikon D300S vs Nikon D90

Pentax K-x
Nikon D90
  • $702
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO

Compare Pentax K-x vs Nikon D90

Compared to Canon 50D

Nikon D300S
Canon 50D
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Less shutter lag
  • More pixels

Compare Nikon D300S vs Canon 50D

Pentax K-x
Canon 50D
  • $702
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K-x vs Canon 50D

Compared to Pentax K-7

Nikon D300S
Pentax K-7
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Less shutter lag

Compare Nikon D300S vs 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

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Nikon D300S
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D300S vs Sony DSLR-A550

Pentax K-x
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $702
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K-x vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Pentax K-r

Nikon D300S
Pentax K-r
  • $1697
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Top deck display
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Less shutter lag

Compare Nikon D300S vs 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

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