Sony NEX-5N vs Pentax K-3

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Sony NEX-5N and the Pentax K-3, 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.

Sony NEX-5N was introduced in October 2011 and Pentax K-3 was introduced in April 2014. 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 Sony NEX-5N over Pentax K-3.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Pentax K-3 over Sony NEX-5N.

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

Sony NEX-5N has a 3.0" Tilting screen with 920k dot resolution and Pentax K-3 has a 3.2" Fixed screen with 1,037k dot resolution. Tilting screen makes Sony NEX-5N very useful for photography purposes but not so useful for video shooting. Sony NEX-5N also features touchscreen which has advantages such as easy menu navigation, intuitive controls, quick setting adjustment and most importantly a Touch-to-Focus functionality allowing users to select a specific point on the screen where they want the camera to focus. This feature can be helpful for achieving precise focus in both photo and video recording.

Viewfinder

Pentax K-3 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. It has a 100% coverage and 0.95x (0.63x 35mm equivalent) magnification.Sony NEX-5N does not have a built-in viewfinder but an optional electronic viewfinder can be attached.

Sony NEX-5N features a 16.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.4 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 365 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 25,600. Pentax K-3 features a 23.35 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.5 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 243.4 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 51,200.

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

Sony NEX-5N is equipped with BIONZ processor and can take pictures up to 4912 x 3264 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4912 x 2760, 3568 x 2368, 3568 x 2000, 2448 x 1624, 2448 x 1376 with 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios. Pentax K-3 is equipped with PRIME III processor and can take pictures up to 6016 x 4000 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4608 x 3072, 3072 x 2048, 1920 x 1080 with 3:2 aspect ratios.

Lens Mount

Sony NEX-5N has Sony E lens mount and Pentax K-3 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.

No Low-Pass Filter on Pentax K-3

There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor on Pentax K-3. This results in a slightly sharper image but may also introduce moiré patterns and aliasing artifacts when photographing subjects with fine, repetitive patterns or details.

In-Body Image Stabilization on Pentax K-3

Pentax K-3 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 inputs for data transfer. Sony NEX-5N has a Mini Type C HDMI and Pentax K-3 has a Mini HDMI connector for video signal output.

Battery

Sony NEX-5N comes with NPFW50 battery pack with battery life of 460 shots and Pentax K-3 comes with D-LI90 battery pack with battery life of 560 shots.

External Storage Slots

Sony NEX-5N has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo card slot. Pentax K-3 has Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) card slots.

Shutter

Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Sony NEX-5N, and up to 1/8000 sec on Pentax K-3. Sony NEX-5N can shoot continuously up to 10.0 fps. Pentax K-3 can shoot continuously up to 8.3 fps.

Flash

Pentax K-3 has a built-in flash with maximum range of 13.00 m at ISO 100 and also accepts external flash which can be connected via Hot Shoe or PC Terminal or Wireless connection. Sony NEX-5N has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Proprietary. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/160 sec on Sony NEX-5N and 1/180 sec on Pentax K-3.

Sony NEX-5N body has dimensions of 111 x 59 x 38 mm (4.37 x 2.32 x 1.5") and Pentax K-3 body has dimensions of 131 x 100 x 77 mm (5.16 x 3.94 x 3.03"). Sony NEX-5N weighs 269 g (0.59 lb / 9.49 oz) and Pentax K-3 weighs 800 g (1.76 lb / 28.22 oz).

Sony NEX-5N

Pentax K-3

111 mm

59 mm

131 mm

100 mm

59 mm

100 mm

38 mm

77 mm