Nikon P520 vs Pentax K-50

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon P520 vs Pentax K-50

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
18.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 1000.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Nikon P520 Review.

APS-C 372.1mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-50 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-50.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-70
Compare K-50 vs K-70
Compare Nikon P520 vs Pentax K-70

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Differences

Nikon P520 advantages over Pentax K-50

Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Faster JPEG shooting
7.0 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Pentax K-50 advantages over Nikon P520

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.81 vs 1.26 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

480 vs 200 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
71 mm vs 101 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Longer exposure
30 vs 8 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Bigger JPEG buffer
30 vs 7 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.

Common Weaknesses

Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
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

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read P520 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-50 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon P520

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-50

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses
Kit with 18-55mm lens

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Nikon P520.
Read our Nikon P520 Preview

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax K-50, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Pentax K-50 First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Nikon P510

Nikon P520

Nikon P510

$427
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
Built-in GPS

$649
1/2.3 inch

Longer stills battery life
Higher extended ISO

Compare Nikon P520 vs Nikon P510

Pentax K-50

Nikon P510

$149
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$649
1/2.3 inch

Tiltable Screen
HDMI out

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Nikon P510

Compared to Sony A37

Nikon P520

Sony A37

$427
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

$600
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon P520 vs Sony A37

Pentax K-50

Sony A37

$149
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$600
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37

Compared to Nikon D3300

Nikon P520

Nikon D3300

$427
1/2.3 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

$206
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon P520 vs Nikon D3300

Pentax K-50

Nikon D3300

$149
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$206
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Nikon D3300

Compared to Samsung WB1100F

Nikon P520

Samsung WB1100F

$427
1/2.3 inch

Tiltable Screen
Built-in GPS

$527
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon P520 vs Samsung WB1100F

Pentax K-50

Samsung WB1100F

$149
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$527
1/2.3 inch

In-camera panoramas
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Samsung WB1100F

Compared to Nikon P530

Nikon P520

Nikon P530

$427
1/2.3 inch

Tiltable Screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$279
1/2.3 inch

Longer stills battery life
Shoots 24p video

Compare Nikon P520 vs Nikon P530

Pentax K-50

Nikon P530

$149
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$279
1/2.3 inch

HDMI out
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Nikon P530

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