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Pentax K-5 II vs Sony A9 II

The Pentax K-5 II and the Sony Alpha A9 II are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2012 and October 2019. The K-5 II is a DSLR, while the A9 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (K-5 II) and a full frame (A9 II) sensor. The Pentax has a resolution of 16.1 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Pentax K-5 II
versus
Sony A9 II
Pentax K-5 II   Sony A9 II
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Pentax K mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
16.1 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/25p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (80 - 51,200) ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (3686k dots)
3.0" LCD – 921k dots 3.0" LCD – 1440k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second 20 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
740 shots per battery charge690 shots per battery charge
131 x 97 x 73 mm, 760 g 129 x 96 x 76 mm, 678 g
logo
Check K-5 II offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check A9 II price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax K-5 II and the Sony Alpha A9 II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Pentax K-5 II and the Sony A9 II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Pentax K-5 II vs Sony A9 II
Compare K-5 II versus A9 II top
Comparison K-5 II or A9 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A9 II is somewhat smaller (3 percent) than the Pentax K-5 II. Moreover, the A9 II is markedly lighter (11 percent) than the K-5 II. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the K-5 II gets 740 shots out of its Pentax D-LI90 battery, while the A9 II can take 690 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FZ100 power pack. The power pack in the A9 II can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Pentax K-5 II 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 i Sep 2012 US$ 1 099ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 i Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.com
3.
 
Nikon D7100 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 950 i Feb 2013 US$ 1 199ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M5 122 mm 89 mm 43 mm 425 g 360 i Feb 2012 US$ 1 299ebay.com
5.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 i Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
6.
 
Pentax K-3 II 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 720 i Apr 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
7.
 
Pentax K-5 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 i Sep 2010 US$ 1 099ebay.com
8.
 
Pentax K-30 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 650 g 410 i May 2012 US$ 849ebay.com
9.
 
Pentax K-50 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 650 g 410 i Jun 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-70 126 mm 93 mm 74 mm 688 g 410 i Jun 2016 US$ 649ebay.com
11.
 
Pentax K-500 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 646 g 710 i Jun 2013 US$ 549ebay.com
12.
 
Pentax KP 132 mm 101 mm 76 mm 703 g 390 i Jan 2017 US$ 1 099ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 i Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IV 129 mm 96 mm 78 mm 665 g 670 i Jul 2019 US$ 3 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7S III 127 mm 97 mm 81 mm 699 g 600 i Jul 2020 US$ 3 499 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 i Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 III 136 mm 97 mm 83 mm 702 g 530 i Nov 2023 US$ 5 999 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty Camera
Model

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The K-5 II was launched at a markedly lower price (by 76 percent) than the A9 II, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Pentax K-5 II features an APS-C sensor and the Sony A9 II a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A9 II is 128 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Pentax K-5 II and Sony A9 II sensor measures

With 24MP, the A9 II offers a higher resolution than the K-5 II (16.1MP), but the A9 II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 4.81μm for the K-5 II) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A9 II is a much more recent model (by 7 years) than the K-5 II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A9 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A9 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Pentax K-5 II are 24.6 x 16.3 inches or 62.6 x 41.5 cm for good quality, 19.7 x 13.1 inches or 50.1 x 33.2 cm for very good quality, and 16.4 x 10.9 inches or 41.7 x 27.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A9 II has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Pentax K-5 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A9 II are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

In terms of underlying technology, the K-5 II is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A9 II uses a Stacked BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

K-5 II versus A9 II MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the A9 II offers substantially better image quality than the K-5 II (overall score 11 points higher). The advantage is based on 1.2 bits higher color depth, 0.1 EV of lower dynamic range, and 1.5 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Pentax K-5 II APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.814.1123582
2.
 
Sony A9 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
3.
 
Nikon D7100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.213.7125683
4.
 
Olympus E-M5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i22.812.382671
5.
 
Pentax K-3 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.713.4121680
6.
 
Pentax K-3 II APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.613.6110680
7.
 
Pentax K-5 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.714.1116282
8.
 
Pentax K-30 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.0112979
9.
 
Pentax K-50 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.0112079
10.
 
Pentax K-70 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i23.813.1163980
11.
 
Pentax K-500 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.1108779
12.
 
Pentax KP APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.913.2169981
13.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
14.
 
Sony A7R IV Full Frame 60.2 9504 63364K/30p26.014.8334499
15.
 
Sony A7S III Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/120p23.713.9252086
16.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792
17.
 
Sony A9 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/120p25.414.7324396
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
  empty Camera
Model

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the A9 II provides a better video resolution than the K-5 II. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/25p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A9 II has an electronic viewfinder (3686k dots), while the K-5 II has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the A9 II has a higher magnification than the one of the K-5 II (0.78x vs 0.61x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Pentax K-5 II and Sony A9 II along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Pentax K-5 IIoptical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/8000s 7.0/s i i
2.
 
Sony A9 II3686 i3.0 / 1440 tilting i 1/8000s 20.0/s i i
3.
 
Nikon D7100optical i3.2 / 1229 fixed i 1/8000s 6.0/s i i
4.
 
Olympus E-M51440 i3.0 / 610 tilting i 1/4000s 9.0/s i i
5.
 
Pentax K-3optical i3.2 / 1037 fixed i 1/8000s 8.3/s i i
6.
 
Pentax K-3 IIoptical i3.2 / 1037 fixed i 1/8000s 8.3/s i i
7.
 
Pentax K-5optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/8000s 7.0/s i i
8.
 
Pentax K-30optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/6000s 6.0/s i i
9.
 
Pentax K-50optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/6000s 6.0/s i i
10.
 
Pentax K-70optical i3.0 / 921 swivel i 1/6000s 6.0/s i i
11.
 
Pentax K-500optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/6000s 6.0/s i i
12.
 
Pentax KPoptical i3.0 / 921 tilting i 1/6000s 7.0/s i i
13.
 
Sony A7 III2359 i3.0 / 922 tilting i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
14.
 
Sony A7R IV5760 i3.0 / 1440 tilting i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
15.
 
Sony A7S III9440 i3.0 / 1440 swivel i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
16.
 
Sony A93686 i3.0 / 1440 tilting i 1/8000s 20.0/s i i
17.
 
Sony A9 III9440 i3.2 / 2100 full-flex i 1/80000s 120.0/s i i
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
  empty Camera
Model

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The K-5 II has one, while the A9 II does not. While the built-in flash of the K-5 II is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A9 II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Pentax K-5 II and the Sony A9 II both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the K-5 II and the A9 II write their files to SDXC cards. The A9 II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the K-5 II only has one slot. The A9 II supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the K-5 II cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Pentax K-5 II and Sony Alpha A9 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Pentax K-5 IIistereo / monoiimini2.0iii
2.
 
Sony A9 IIistereo / monoiimicro3.1iii
3.
 
Nikon D7100istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
4.
 
Olympus E-M5istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
5.
 
Pentax K-3imono / monoiimini3.0iii
6.
 
Pentax K-3 IIimono / monoiimini3.0iii
7.
 
Pentax K-5istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
8.
 
Pentax K-30imono / monoiii2.0iii
9.
 
Pentax K-50imono / monoiimicro2.0iii
10.
 
Pentax K-70istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
11.
 
Pentax K-500imono / monoiii2.0iii
12.
 
Pentax KPistereo / monoiii2.0iii
13.
 
Sony A7 IIIistereo / monoiimicro3.1iii
14.
 
Sony A7R IVistereo / monoiimicro3.1iii
15.
 
Sony A7S IIIistereo / monoiifull3.2iii
16.
 
Sony A9istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
17.
 
Sony A9 IIIistereo / monoiifull3.2iii
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
  empty Camera
Model

It is notable that the A9 II offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the K-5 II does not provide wifi capability.

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

The A9 II is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the K-5 II has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the K-5 II was succeeded by the Pentax K-3. Further information on the features and operation of the K-5 II and A9 II can be found, respectively, in the Pentax K-5 II Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A9 II Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Pentax K-5 II or the Sony A9 II – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Arguments in favor of the Pentax K-5 II:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (76 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2012).

ilogo

Advantages of the Sony Alpha A9 II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 16.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 22%.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (11 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.2 bits more color depth).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.5 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/25p).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.78x vs 0.61x).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1440k vs 921k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (20 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 82g or 11 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II) SDXC cards on both slots.
  • More modern: Reflects 7 years of technical progress since the K-5 II launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A9 II is the clear winner of the contest (24 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

K-5 II 05:24 A9 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Pentax K-5 II and the Sony A9 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the K-5 II and the A9 II in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Pentax K-5 II5/5....80/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 1 099ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.com
3.
 
Nikon D71005/5+ +..85/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 US$ 1 199ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M54/5+ +..80/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2012 US$ 1 299ebay.com
5.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
6.
 
Pentax K-3 II4.5/5......5/55/5 Apr 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
7.
 
Pentax K-54/5....83/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2010 US$ 1 099ebay.com
8.
 
Pentax K-304/5....78/1004.5/54.5/5 May 2012 US$ 849ebay.com
9.
 
Pentax K-505/5......5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-704.5/5..4/579/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2016 US$ 649ebay.com
11.
 
Pentax K-500........4.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 US$ 549ebay.com
12.
 
Pentax KP4/5..3/582/1005/54.5/5 Jan 2017 US$ 1 099ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A7R IV5/5+4.5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2019 US$ 3 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7S III4.5/5+ +5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2020 US$ 3 499 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 III4.5/5....91/100.... Nov 2023 US$ 5 999 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty  Camera 
 Model 

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Check K-5 II offers at
ebay.com
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Check A9 II price at
amazon.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Pentax K-5 II vs Sony A9 II

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

Camera Specifications
Camera Model Pentax K-5 II Sony A9 II
Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Camera Lens Pentax K mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
Launch Date September 2012 October 2019
Launch Price USD 1,099 USD 4,499
Sensor Specs Pentax K-5 II Sony A9 II
Sensor Technology CMOS Stacked BSI-CMOS
Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Full Frame Sensor
Sensor Size 23.7 x 15.7 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
Sensor Area 372.09 mm2 847.28 mm2
Sensor Diagonal 28.4 mm 42.8 mm
Crop Factor 1.5x 1.0x
Sensor Resolution 16.1 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
Image Resolution 4928 x 3264 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
Pixel Pitch 4.81 μm 5.94 μm
Pixel Density 4.32 MP/cm2 2.83 MP/cm2
Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
Movie Capability 1080/25p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO Setting 100 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
ISO Boost 80 - 51,200 ISO 50 - 204,800 ISO
Image Processor PRIME II BIONZ X
DXO Sensor Quality (score) 82 93
DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.8 25.0
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.1 14.0
DXO Low Light (ISO) 1235 3434
Screen Specs Pentax K-5 II Sony A9 II
Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.61x 0.78x
Viewfinder Resolution 3686k dots
Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
LCD Framing Live View Live View
Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
LCD Resolution 921k dots 1440k dots
LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
Shooting Specs Pentax K-5 II Sony A9 II
Focus System Phase-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous Shooting 7 shutter flaps/s 20 shutter flaps/s
Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations500 000 actuations
Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/32000s
Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
UHS card support no Dual UHS-II
Connectivity Specs Pentax K-5 II Sony A9 II
External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.1
HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
Body Specs Pentax K-5 II Sony A9 II
Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
Battery Type Pentax D-LI90 Sony NP-FZ100
Battery Life (CIPA)740 shots per charge690 shots per charge
In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
Body Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73 mm
(5.2 x 3.8 x 2.9 in)
129 x 96 x 76 mm
(5.1 x 3.8 x 3.0 in)
Camera Weight 760 g (26.8 oz) 678 g (23.9 oz)
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