Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Pentax
K-5
Legendary weather-sealed APS-C DSLR with 16MP sensor and exceptional build quality.
$1,099
Launch priceReleased Sep 2010
Z9 is 11.1 years newer.
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Wins
Z9
Wins
K-5
3 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BK-5 has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 60 frames)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
- AZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 101)
- AZ9 has higher Resolution (45.7 MP vs 16.3 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1160 g (2.56 lb / 40.92 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
K-5
131 × 97 × 73 mm
750 g (1.65 lb / 26.46 oz)
Z9 is 18mm wider, 53mm taller, and 18mm thicker than K-5.
Z9 is 410 g heavier than K-5.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 73mm K-5
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
K-5
131 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
K-5
131 × 73 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
K-5
23.7 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
372 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
K-5
Pentax K
70+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 101 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
K-5
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131, 97, 73
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
AA filter
Only K-5 supports it
Weight
750 g vs 1160 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓IBIS effectiveness — Both 6 stops
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
K-5
Pros
- ✓Legendary build
- ✓Weather sealed
- ✓Excellent JPEG engine
- ✓Compact pro DSLR
Cons
- –16MP very dated
- –Slow AF
- –DSLR niche
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Z9 and K-5 at major authorized retailers.
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, Z9 or K-5?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 3.5/10 for K-5 — 45.7MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and K-5?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and K-5 is 16.3 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and K-5 have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while K-5 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the K-5?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. K-5 reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and K-5?
Z9 weighs 1160 g and K-5 weighs 750 g, so the K-5 is 410 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and K-5 record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. K-5: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and K-5 weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. K-5: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 640 shots for the K-5, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,499 and K-5 at $1,099. The K-5 is $4,400 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Z9 vs K-5 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Pentax press materials.