Pentax K-5 vs Leica Q2

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Pentax K-5 vs Leica Q2

APS-C 372.1mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-5 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-5.

35mm 864.0mm²
47.3 megapixels
28.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Leica Q2 Review.

Succeeded by the Pentax K-5 II
Compare K-5 vs K-5 II
Compare Pentax K-5 II vs Leica Q2

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Differences

Pentax K-5 advantages over Leica Q2

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

740 vs 370 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger RAW buffer
23 vs 14 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Leica Q2 advantages over Pentax K-5

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
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
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher max flash sync
1/500 vs 1/180 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
5 years vs 14 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More viewfinder magnification
0.76x vs 0.61x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
47.3 vs 16.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
120 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/40000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

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
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
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
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
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
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Adorama
Read K-5 User Reviews

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Adorama
Read Q2 User Reviews

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Buy the Pentax K-5

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

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Buy the Leica Q2

Leica Q2 (Black)

Review Excerpt

Excellent high ISO performance, one of the best APS-C sensors yet; 6.5 fps burst mode has very good buffer depths; Weather, dust, and cold resistant; In-body Shake Reduction corrects not only horizontal / vertical, but also rotational motion.
Default saturation and contrast a bit high; Auto white balance too warm in tungsten light; Fewer AF points than main competitors; Only a single card slot, and no UHS-I card support (slow buffer clearing).
Read our Pentax K-5 Full Review

We haven’t reviewed the Leica Q2.
Read our Leica Q2 Hands-On Preview

The Competition

Compared to Canon T3i

Pentax K-5

Canon T3i

$800
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Canon T3i

Leica Q2

Canon T3i

$5563
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Internal flash

Compare Leica Q2 vs Canon T3i

Compared to Nikon D5100

Pentax K-5

Nikon D5100

$800
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Top deck display

$650
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Nikon D5100

Leica Q2

Nikon D5100

$5563
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$650
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Longer stills battery life

Compare Leica Q2 vs Nikon D5100

Compared to Pentax K-30

Pentax K-5

Pentax K-30

$800
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$599
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Pentax K-30

Leica Q2

Pentax K-30

$5563
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$599
APS-C

Internal flash
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Leica Q2 vs Pentax K-30

Compared to Leica Q

Pentax K-5

Leica Q

$800
APS-C

More dynamic range
Internal flash

$3695
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Leica Q

Leica Q2

Leica Q

$5563
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Built-in Bluetooth

$3695
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Leica Q2 vs Leica Q

Compared to Zeiss ZX1

Pentax K-5

Zeiss ZX1

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$6000
35mm

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-5 vs Zeiss ZX1

Leica Q2

Zeiss ZX1

$5563
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$6000
35mm

NFC
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Leica Q2 vs Zeiss ZX1

Compare Other Cameras?