A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Pentax K-5 II vs Zeiss ZX1

The Pentax K-5 II and the Zeiss ZX1 are two enthusiast cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2012 and September 2018. The K-5 II is a DSLR, while the ZX1 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (K-5 II) and a full frame (ZX1) sensor. The Pentax has a resolution of 16.1 megapixels, whereas the Zeiss provides 37.4 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
Zeiss ZX1
Pentax K-5 II   Zeiss ZX1
Digital single lens reflex Fixed lens compact camera
Pentax K mount lenses 35mm f/2.8
16.1 MP – APS-C sensor 37.4 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/25p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (80 - 51,200) ISO 80-51,200
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (6221k dots)
3.0" LCD – 921k dots 4.3" LCD – 2765k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationno shake reduction
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
740 shots per battery charge250 shots per battery charge
131 x 97 x 73 mm, 760 g 142 x 93 x 46 mm, 800 g
logo
Check K-5 II offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check ZX1 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax K-5 II and the Zeiss ZX1? 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.

ad

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Pentax K-5 II and the Zeiss ZX1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Pentax K-5 II vs Zeiss ZX1
Compare K-5 II versus ZX1 top
Comparison K-5 II or ZX1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Zeiss ZX1 is somewhat larger (4 percent) than the Pentax K-5 II. It is worth mentioning in this context that the K-5 II is splash and dust resistant, while the ZX1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the ZX1 has a lens built in, whereas the K-5 II is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

Concerning battery life, the K-5 II gets 740 shots out of its Pentax D-LI90 battery, while the ZX1 can take 250 images on a single charge of its Zeiss DD-PS1A power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Pentax K-5 II 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 Y Sep 2012 1,099ebay.com
2.
 
Zeiss ZX1 142 mm 93 mm 46 mm 800 g 250 n Sep 2018 5,999ebay.com
3.
 
Leica Q2 130 mm 80 mm 92 mm 718 g 370 Y Mar 2019 4,995 amazon.com
4.
 
Leica M10 139 mm 80 mm 39 mm 660 g 210 Y Jan 2017 6,595ebay.com
5.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 130 mm 80 mm 93 mm 640 g 300 n Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D7100 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 950 Y Feb 2013 1,199ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M5 122 mm 89 mm 43 mm 425 g 360 Y Feb 2012 1,299ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 137 mm 99 mm 131 mm 831 g 360 n Jun 2014 899ebay.com
9.
 
Pentax KP 132 mm 101 mm 76 mm 703 g 390 Y Jan 2017 1,099ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-70 126 mm 93 mm 74 mm 688 g 410 Y Jun 2016 649ebay.com
11.
 
Pentax K-3 II 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 720 Y Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
12.
 
Pentax K-50 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 650 g 410 Y Jun 2013 599ebay.com
13.
 
Pentax K-500 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 646 g 710 n Jun 2013 549ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 Y Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-30 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 650 g 410 Y May 2012 849ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-5 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 Y Sep 2010 1,099ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX1R II 113 mm 65 mm 72 mm 507 g 220 n Oct 2015 3,299ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Pentax K-5 II features an APS-C sensor and the Zeiss ZX1 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the ZX1 is 132 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 Zeiss ZX1 sensor measures

With 37.4MP, the ZX1 offers a higher resolution than the K-5 II (16.1MP), but the ZX1 nevertheless has the same individual pixel size (pixel pitch of 4.81μm) as the K-5 II due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the ZX1 is a much more recent model (by 6 years) than the K-5 II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Zeiss ZX1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the ZX1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 37.4 x 25 inches or 95.1 x 63.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 30 x 20 inches or 76.1 x 50.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 25 x 16.6 inches or 63.4 x 42.3 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 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 Zeiss ZX1 are ISO 80 to ISO 51200 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. 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 ZX1 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
# image 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.
 
Zeiss ZX1 Full Frame 37.4 7488 49924K/30p25.214.1275994
3.
 
Leica Q2 Full Frame 46.7 8368 55844K/30p26.413.5249196
4.
 
Leica M10 Full Frame 23.8 5952 3992none24.413.2213386
5.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.7222185
6.
 
Nikon D7100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.213.7125683
7.
 
Olympus E-M5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i22.812.382671
8.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.111.751764
9.
 
Pentax KP APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.913.2169981
10.
 
Pentax K-70 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i23.813.1163980
11.
 
Pentax K-3 II APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.613.6110680
12.
 
Pentax K-50 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.0112079
13.
 
Pentax K-500 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.1108779
14.
 
Pentax K-3 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.713.4121680
15.
 
Pentax K-30 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.0112979
16.
 
Pentax K-5 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.714.1116282
17.
 
Sony RX1R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53041080/60p25.813.9320497
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
padding

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the ZX1 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.

ad

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the ZX1 has an electronic viewfinder (6221k 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 ZX1 has a higher magnification than the one of the K-5 II (0.74x 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 Zeiss ZX1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

scroll hint
Core Features
# image 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 Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Zeiss ZX16221 n4.3 / 2765 fixed Y 1/1000s 3.0/s n n
3.
 
Leica Q23680 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s n Y
4.
 
Leica M10optical n3.0 / 1037 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s n n
5.
 
Leica Q Typ 1163680 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s n Y
6.
 
Nikon D7100optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
7.
 
Olympus E-M51440 n3.0 / 610 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s n Y
8.
 
Panasonic FZ10002359 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Pentax KPoptical n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/6000s 7.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Pentax K-70optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Pentax K-3 IIoptical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s n Y
12.
 
Pentax K-50optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Pentax K-500optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Pentax K-3optical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s Y Y
15.
 
Pentax K-30optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Pentax K-5optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Sony RX1R II2360 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/4000s 5.0/s n n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The K-5 II has one, while the ZX1 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 ZX1 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 has 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.

The K-5 II writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the ZX1 uses an internal SSD.

ad

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 Zeiss ZX1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
# image 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 IIYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
2.
 
Zeiss ZX1Ystereo / mono---3.1YYY
3.
 
Leica Q2Ystereo / mono----Y-Y
4.
 
Leica M10Y- / -----Y--
5.
 
Leica Q Typ 116Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Nikon D7100Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-M5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Panasonic FZ1000Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Pentax KPYstereo / monoY--2.0Y--
10.
 
Pentax K-70Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
11.
 
Pentax K-3 IIYmono / monoYYmini3.0---
12.
 
Pentax K-50Ymono / mono--micro2.0---
13.
 
Pentax K-500Ymono / mono---2.0---
14.
 
Pentax K-3Ymono / monoYYmini3.0---
15.
 
Pentax K-30Ymono / mono---2.0---
16.
 
Pentax K-5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
17.
 
Sony RX1R IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
padding

It is notable that the K-5 II has a microphone port, which is missing on the ZX1. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax K-5 II (unlike the ZX1) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the K-5 II and the ZX1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The K-5 II was replaced by the Pentax K-3, while the ZX1 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the K-5 II and ZX1 can be found, respectively, in the Pentax K-5 II Manual (free pdf) or the online Zeiss ZX1 Manual.

ad

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Pentax K-5 II and the Zeiss ZX1? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

ilogo

Arguments in favor of the Pentax K-5 II:

  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/1000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (740 versus 250) on a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2012).

ilogo

Advantages of the Zeiss ZX1:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (37.4 vs 16.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 52%.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/25p).
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.61x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (4.3" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2765k vs 921k dots).
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the K-5 II requires a separate lens.
  • 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.
  • More prestigious: Has the Zeiss luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
  • More modern: Reflects 6 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 ZX1 is the clear winner of the contest (19 : 13 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 wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

K-5 II 13:19 ZX1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Pentax K-5 II and the Zeiss ZX1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the K-5 II or the ZX1 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear 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.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Pentax K-5 II5/5....80/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 1,099ebay.com
2.
 
Zeiss ZX13/5....83/1004/54/5 Sep 2018 5,999ebay.com
3.
 
Leica Q2....4.5/584/1004.5/54/5 Mar 2019 4,995 amazon.com
4.
 
Leica M104.5/5......4/54.5/5 Jan 2017 6,595ebay.com
5.
 
Leica Q Typ 1165/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D71005/5+ +..85/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 1,199ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M54/5+ +..80/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2012 1,299ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic FZ10004/5+ +..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2014 899ebay.com
9.
 
Pentax KP4/5..3/582/1005/54.5/5 Jan 2017 1,099ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-704.5/5..4/579/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2016 649ebay.com
11.
 
Pentax K-3 II4.5/5......5/55/5 Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
12.
 
Pentax K-505/5......5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 599ebay.com
13.
 
Pentax K-500........4.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 549ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-304/5....78/1004.5/54.5/5 May 2012 849ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-54/5....83/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2010 1,099ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX1R II5/5....82/100..4.5/5 Oct 2015 3,299ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

logo
Check K-5 II offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check ZX1 offers at
ebay.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 use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Pentax K-5 II vs Zeiss ZX1

    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 Zeiss ZX1
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens Pentax K mount lenses 35mm f/2.8
    Launch Date September 2012 September 2018
    Launch Price USD 1,099 USD 5,999
    Sensor Specs Pentax K-5 II Zeiss ZX1
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.7 x 15.7 mm 36.0 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 372.09 mm2 864 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.4 mm 43.3 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 16.1 Megapixels 37.4 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4928 x 3264 pixels 7488 x 4992 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.81 μm 4.81 μm
    Pixel Density 4.32 MP/cm2 4.33 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/25p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12,800 ISO 80 - 51,200 ISO
    ISO Boost 80 - 51,200 ISO no Enhancement
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 82 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.8 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.1 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1235 ..
    Screen Specs Pentax K-5 II Zeiss ZX1
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.61x 0.74x
    Viewfinder Resolution 6221k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 4.3inch
    LCD Resolution 921k dots 2765k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Pentax K-5 II Zeiss ZX1
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 7 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/8000s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inno Intervalometer
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationno handshake reduction
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SSD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single SSD
    Connectivity Specs Pentax K-5 II Zeiss ZX1
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.1
    HDMI Port mini HDMI no HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    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 Zeiss ZX1
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Pentax D-LI90 Zeiss DD-PS1A
    Battery Life (CIPA)740 shots per charge250 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73 mm
    (5.2 x 3.8 x 2.9 in)
    142 x 93 x 46 mm
    (5.6 x 3.7 x 1.8 in)
    Camera Weight 760 g (26.8 oz) 800 g (28.2 oz)
    logo
    Check K-5 II offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check ZX1 offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Pentax K-5 II vs Zeiss ZX1