Nikon D3100 vs Pentax K-500

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Nikon D3100 and the Pentax K-500, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

Nikon D3100 was introduced in December 2010 and Pentax K-500 was introduced in November 2013. Let us first list highlights of the models.

Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon D3100 over Pentax K-500.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Pentax K-500 over Nikon D3100.

We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

Screen

Nikon D3100 and Pentax K-500 have 3.0" Fixed screens with 230k dot and 921k dot resolutions respectively.

Viewfinder

Nikon D3100 has a built-in Optical (pentamirror) viewfinderPentax K-500 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. Nikon D3100 has 95% coverage with 0.80x (0.53x 35mm equivalent) magnification and Pentax K-500 has 100% coverage with 0.92x (0.61x 35mm equivalent) magnification.

Nikon D3100 features a 14 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.1 x 15.4 mm and a total area of 355.7 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 3,200 and expands to 100 - 12,800 in boosted mode. Pentax K-500 features a 16.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.7 x 15.7 mm and a total area of 246.5 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 51,600.

Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how different sensors compare with each other:

Sensor size chart

	Sensor	Dimensions	Area	Aspect Ratio	Crop Factor
	Medium Format	44 x 33 mm	1452 mm2	4:3	0.79x
	Full Frame	36 x 24 mm	864 mm2	3:2	1x
	APS-H	27 x 18 mm	486 mm2	3:2	1.3x
	APS-C	23.6 x 15.6 mm	368.2 mm2	3:2	1.5x
	APS-C (Canon)	22.3 x 14.9 mm	332.3 mm2	3:2	1.6x
	Micro Four Thirds	17.4 x 13 mm	226.2 mm2	4:3	2x
	1-inch	13.2 x 8.8 mm	116.2 mm2	3:2	2.7x
	1/1.7-inch	7.44 x 5.58 mm	41.5 mm2	4:3	4.7x
	1/2.3-inch	6.17 x 4.55 mm	28.1 mm2	4:3	5.6x

Nikon D3100 is equipped with EXPEED 2 processor and can take pictures up to 4608 x 3072 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 3456 x 2304, 2304 x 1536 with 3:2 aspect ratios. Pentax K-500 is equipped with PRIME M processor and can take pictures up to 4928 x 3264 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4224 x 2816, 3456 x 2304, 2688 x 1792 with 3:2 aspect ratios.

Lens Mount

Nikon D3100 has Nikon F lens mount and Pentax K-500 has Pentax K_AF2 lens mount. Due to their APS-C sensor their crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is equal to 1.5x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.

In-Body Image Stabilization on Pentax K-500

Pentax K-500 has a built-in Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. connector for video signal output.

Battery

Nikon D3100 comes with EN-EL14 battery pack with battery life of 550 shots and Pentax K-500 comes with 4 x AA battery pack with battery life of 710 shots.

External Storage Slots

Nikon D3100 has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot. Pentax K-500 has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) card slot.

Shutter

Nikon D3100 has Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon D3100, and up to 1/6000 sec on Pentax K-500. Nikon D3100 can shoot continuously up to 3.0 fps. Pentax K-500 can shoot continuously up to 6.0 fps.

Focusing

Nikon D3100 has 11 (1 cross-type) focusing points and Pentax K-500 has 11 (9 cross-type) focusing points. Nikon D3100 has detection range from -1 to +19 EV.

Exposure

Exposure meterings of Nikon D3100 ranges from 0 to +20 EV and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range on Nikon D3100 and ±5 EV range on Pentax K-500. You can also do exposure lock and manual exposure adjustment on Nikon D3100 and exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Pentax K-500.

Flash

Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 12.00 m at ISO 100.. They also accept external flash which can be connected via Hot Shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock to Nikon D3100 and via Hot Shoe or Wireless connection to Pentax K-500. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/200 sec on Nikon D3100 and 1/180 sec on Pentax K-500.

Nikon D3100 body has dimensions of 124 x 96 x 75 mm (4.88 x 3.78 x 2.95") and Pentax K-500 body has dimensions of 130 x 97 x 71 mm (5.12 x 3.82 x 2.8"). Nikon D3100 weighs 505 g (1.11 lb / 17.81 oz) and Pentax K-500 weighs 646 g (1.42 lb / 22.79 oz).

Nikon D3100

Pentax K-500

124 mm

96 mm

130 mm

97 mm

96 mm

97 mm

75 mm

71 mm