• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

Buy From

Differences

Pentax K-5 II advantages over Sony A5000

  • 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
  • Fast startup
    ~0.60 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,235 vs 1,089 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 740 vs 420 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    203 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • 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
  • Higher-res screen
    307k vs 154k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    6.7 fps vs 3.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    28 vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    6.7 fps vs 2.5 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    22 vs 9 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 16000 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A5000 advantages over Pentax K-5 II

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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
  • Thinner
    35 mm vs 73 mm
    Thinner
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Lighter weight
    388g vs 1200g
    Lighter weight
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 16.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • 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
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • 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
  • 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

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-5 II

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5000

Review Excerpt

  • Compact yet control-rich body packs in the features; Updated autofocus system focuses in near-darkness; Fully weather-sealed; Sharp, detailed images with very good dynamic range; In-body image stabilization; Dual-axis level with horizon correction.

  • Can seem intimidating at first; Fewer autofocus points than competitors; Doesn't take advantage of high-speed UHS-I flash cards; Movie feature set is very dated and file sizes huge.

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7000

Pentax K-5 II
Nikon D7000
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
Sony A5000
Nikon D7000
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Pentax K-30

Pentax K-5 II
Pentax K-30
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $599
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
Sony A5000
Pentax K-30
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $599
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Canon T4i

Pentax K-5 II
Canon T4i
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $690
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
Sony A5000
Canon T4i
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
  • $690
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Pentax K-5 II
Sony NEX-5T
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
Sony A5000
Sony NEX-5T
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash
  • $299
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compared to Sony A5100

Pentax K-5 II
Sony A5100
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
Sony A5000
Sony A5100
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Higher effective ISO
Compare Other Cameras?