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Pentax K-5 vs Nikon D7000

The Pentax K-5 and the Nikon D7000 are two enthusiast cameras that were officially introduced in September 2010. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 16.1 megapixels.

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

Headline Specifications
Pentax K-5
versus
Nikon D7000
Pentax K-5   Nikon D7000
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Pentax K mount lenses Nikon F mount lenses
16.1 MP – APS-C sensor 16.1 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/25p Video 1080/24p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (80 - 51,200) ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 921k dots 3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
7 shutter flaps per second 6 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
740 shots per battery charge1050 shots per battery charge
131 x 97 x 73 mm, 760 g 132 x 105 x 77 mm, 780 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Pentax K-5 and the Nikon D7000? 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 and the Nikon D7000. 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 measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Pentax K-5 vs Nikon D7000
Compare K-5 versus D7000 top
Comparison K-5 or D7000 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D7000 is notably larger (9 percent) than the Pentax K-5. Moreover, the D7000 is slightly heavier (3 percent) than the K-5. 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 gets 740 shots out of its Pentax D-LI90 battery, while the D7000 can take 1050 images on a single charge of its Nikon EN-EL15 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. 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
# 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-5 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 Y Sep 2010 1,099ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon D7000 132 mm 105 mm 77 mm 780 g 1050 Y Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 7D 148 mm 111 mm 74 mm 860 g 800 Y Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D7500 136 mm 104 mm 73 mm 720 g 950 Y Apr 2017 1,299 amazon.com
5.
 
Nikon D7100 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 950 Y Feb 2013 1,199ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D300S 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 938 g 950 Y Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D90 132 mm 103 mm 77 mm 703 g 850 n Aug 2008 1,299ebay.com
8.
 
Pentax KP 132 mm 101 mm 76 mm 703 g 390 Y Jan 2017 1,099ebay.com
9.
 
Pentax K-70 126 mm 93 mm 74 mm 688 g 410 Y Jun 2016 649ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-3 II 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 720 Y Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
11.
 
Pentax K-50 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 650 g 410 Y Jun 2013 599ebay.com
12.
 
Pentax K-500 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 646 g 710 n Jun 2013 549ebay.com
13.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 Y Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-30 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 650 g 410 Y May 2012 849ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-5 II 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 Y Sep 2012 1,099ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A77 143 mm 104 mm 81 mm 732 g 470 Y Aug 2011 1,399ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The K-5 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 27 percent) than the D7000, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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 imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Pentax K-5 and Nikon D7000 sensor measures

Even though the K-5 has a slightly larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 16.1 megapixels. This implies that the K-5 has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 4.81μm versus 4.80μm for the D7000), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. The two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation.

The Pentax K-5 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 Nikon D7000 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

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 versus D7000 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. 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
# 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 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.714.1116282
2.
 
Nikon D7000 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/24p23.513.9116780
3.
 
Canon 7D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.785466
4.
 
Nikon D7500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.314.0148386
5.
 
Nikon D7100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.213.7125683
6.
 
Nikon D300S APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.512.278770
7.
 
Nikon D90 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.712.597773
8.
 
Pentax KP APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.913.2169981
9.
 
Pentax K-70 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i23.813.1163980
10.
 
Pentax K-3 II APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.613.6110680
11.
 
Pentax K-50 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.0112079
12.
 
Pentax K-500 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.1108779
13.
 
Pentax K-3 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.713.4121680
14.
 
Pentax K-30 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.0112979
15.
 
Pentax K-5 II APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.814.1123582
16.
 
Sony A77 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.280178
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the K-5 provides a higher frame rate than the D7000. It can shoot video footage at 1080/25p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/24p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The K-5 and the D7000 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the D7000 has a higher magnification than the one of the K-5 (0.63x vs 0.61x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Pentax K-5, the Nikon D7000, and comparable cameras.

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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-5optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Nikon D7000optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 7Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
4.
 
Nikon D7500optical Y3.2 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
5.
 
Nikon D7100optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D300Soptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon D90optical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 4.5/s Y n
8.
 
Pentax KPoptical n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/6000s 7.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Pentax K-70optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Pentax K-3 IIoptical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s n Y
11.
 
Pentax K-50optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Pentax K-500optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Pentax K-3optical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s Y Y
14.
 
Pentax K-30optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/6000s 6.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Pentax K-5 IIoptical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Sony A772359 Y3.0 / 921 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

One feature that differentiates the K-5 and the D7000 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The K-5 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the D7000 offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.

The Pentax K-5 and the Nikon D7000 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 and the D7000 write their files to SDXC cards. The D7000 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the K-5 only has one slot.

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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 and Nikon D7000 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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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-5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
2.
 
Nikon D7000Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
3.
 
Canon 7DYmono / -Y-mini2.0---
4.
 
Nikon D7500Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Nikon D7100Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
6.
 
Nikon D300SYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
7.
 
Nikon D90Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Pentax KPYstereo / monoY--2.0Y--
9.
 
Pentax K-70Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
10.
 
Pentax K-3 IIYmono / monoYYmini3.0---
11.
 
Pentax K-50Ymono / mono--micro2.0---
12.
 
Pentax K-500Ymono / mono---2.0---
13.
 
Pentax K-3Ymono / monoYYmini3.0---
14.
 
Pentax K-30Ymono / mono---2.0---
15.
 
Pentax K-5 IIYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
16.
 
Sony A77Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
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Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax K-5 (unlike the D7000) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the K-5 and the D7000 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D7000 was replaced by the Nikon D7100, while the K-5 was followed by the Pentax K-5 II. Further information on the features and operation of the K-5 and D7000 can be found, respectively, in the Pentax K-5 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D7000 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Pentax K-5 and the Nikon D7000? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Arguments in favor of the Pentax K-5:

  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/25p versus 1080/24p).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (27 percent cheaper at launch).

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Reasons to prefer the Nikon D7000:

  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.63x vs 0.61x).
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (1050 versus 740) out of a single battery charge.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the K-5 emerges as the winner of the contest (5 : 3 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. 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 05:03 D7000

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Pentax K-5 and the Nikon D7000 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing 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 remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the K-5 or the D7000 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 why hands-on reviews by experts are important. 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.

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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-54/5....83/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2010 1,099ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon D70004/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 7D5/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D75004.5/5+ +4.5/586/1005/54.5/5 Apr 2017 1,299 amazon.com
5.
 
Nikon D71005/5+ +..85/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 1,199ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D300S5/5+ +..82/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D90..+ +..+ +4/54.5/5 Aug 2008 1,299ebay.com
8.
 
Pentax KP4/5..3/582/1005/54.5/5 Jan 2017 1,099ebay.com
9.
 
Pentax K-704.5/5..4/579/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2016 649ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-3 II4.5/5......5/55/5 Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
11.
 
Pentax K-505/5......5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 599ebay.com
12.
 
Pentax K-500........4.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 549ebay.com
13.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-304/5....78/1004.5/54.5/5 May 2012 849ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-5 II5/5....80/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 1,099ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A775/591/100..81/100..5/5 Aug 2011 1,399ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. 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 vs Nikon D7000

    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 Nikon D7000
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Pentax K mount lenses Nikon F mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2010 September 2010
    Launch Price USD 1,099 USD 1,499
    Sensor Specs Pentax K-5 Nikon D7000
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.7 x 15.7 mm 23.6 x 15.7 mm
    Sensor Area 372.09 mm2 370.52 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.4 mm 28.3 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 16.1 Megapixels 16.1 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4928 x 3264 pixels 4928 x 3264 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.81 μm 4.80 μm
    Pixel Density 4.32 MP/cm2 4.34 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/25p Video 1080/24p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    ISO Boost 80 - 51,200 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor PRIME II EXPEED 2
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 82 80
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.7 23.5
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.1 13.9
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1162 1167
    Screen Specs Pentax K-5 Nikon D7000
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.61x 0.63x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 921k dots 921k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Pentax K-5 Nikon D7000
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 7 shutter flaps/s 6 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations150 000 actuations
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Pentax K-5 Nikon D7000
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Pentax K-5 Nikon D7000
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Pentax D-LI90 Nikon EN-EL15
    Battery Life (CIPA)740 shots per charge1050 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73 mm
    (5.2 x 3.8 x 2.9 in)
    132 x 105 x 77 mm
    (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in)
    Camera Weight 760 g (26.8 oz) 780 g (27.5 oz)
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