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Pentax

K-5 IIs

APS-C flagship without AA filter for maximum sharpness — a cult favorite among Pentax stills shooters.

$1,099

Launch price

Released Sep 2012

vs
Alpha 7 V

Sony

Alpha 7 V

33MP partially stacked Exmor RS hybrid with BIONZ XR2 AI, 30fps blackout-free burst, 7.5-stop IBIS, and 4K 60p oversampled from 7K.

$2,899

Launch price

Released Dec 2025

Alpha 7 V is 13.3 years newer.

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Wins

2categories

K-5 IIs

WildlifeSports & Action

Wins

12categories

Alpha 7 V

WildlifeSports & Action

4 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

K-5 IIs wins 0 categories·Alpha 7 V wins 5 categories
  • BAlpha 7 V has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 101)
  • BAlpha 7 V has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
  • BAlpha 7 V has higher Resolution (33 MP vs 16.3 MP)
  • BAlpha 7 V has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
  • BAlpha 7 V has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 15 fps)

Key specs at a glance

K-5 IIsAlpha 7 V
Resolution16.3 MP33 MP
SensorAPS-CFull Frame
ISO max25,60051,200
Burst15 fps30 fps
4K60 fps120 fps
IBIS6-stop7.5-stop
Weight710 g695 g
Battery640 shots630 shots

Size and weight, to scale

K-5 IIs

131 × 97 × 73 mm

710 g (1.57 lb / 25.04 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Alpha 7 V front view

Alpha 7 V

130 × 96 × 82 mm

695 g (1.53 lb / 24.52 oz)

K-5 IIs is 9mm thinner than Alpha 7 V but it is also 1mm wider and 1mm taller.

K-5 IIs is 15 g heavier than Alpha 7 V.

Depth (front-to-back): 73mm K-5 IIs · 82mm Alpha 7 V

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

K-5 IIs

131 × 97 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Alpha 7 V back view

Alpha 7 V

130 × 96 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

K-5 IIs

131 × 73 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Alpha 7 V top view

Alpha 7 V

130 × 82 mm

Sensor size, to scale

K-5 IIs

23.7 × 15.7 mm · APS-C

372 mm² area

Alpha 7 V

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

K-5 IIs

Pentax K

70+

native lenses available

30 first-party40 third-party

Alpha 7 V

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

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

Use caseK-5 IIsAlpha 7 V
Portrait
5.5Fair
8.0Excellent✓ wins
Sports & Action
6.5Good
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
8.0Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
3.5Limited
7.5Good✓ wins
Travel
6.5Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
8.0Excellent
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
5.5Fair
5.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

K-5 IIs

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 131, 97, 73

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Vehicle

  • AF frame coverage

    100 % vs 94 % — higher is better

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 630 shots — higher is better

Reasons to choose

Alpha 7 V

  • AF low-light limit

    -4 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 130.3, 96.4, 82.4

  • AF points / zones

    759 vs 101 — higher is better

  • Max video bit rate

    600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Insect, Car, Train…

  • Resolution

    33 MP vs 16.3 MP — higher is better

  • AA filter

    Only Alpha 7 V supports it

Both cameras share

  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release
  • In-body stabilization (IBIS)Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
  • Weather sealingBoth support weather sealing

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

K-5 IIs

Pros

  • No AA filter
  • Weather sealed
  • Excellent build
  • Strong JPEG engine

Cons

  • 16MP dated
  • Slow AF
  • DSLR declining

Alpha 7 V

Pros

  • 33MP partially stacked sensor — ~4.5× faster readout than α7 IV
  • Blackout-free 30 fps with full AF/AE (electronic shutter)
  • 7.5-stop central / 6.5-stop peripheral IBIS (CIPA 2024)
  • 759-point phase-detect AF down to EV -4 with AI subject recognition
  • 7K oversampled 4K 60p (full-frame, no pixel binning) + 4K 120p
  • Pre-Capture and dual USB-C (10 Gbps + USB 2.0)
  • Up to 16 stops dynamic range

Cons

  • Premium price vs α7 IV
  • 4K 120p typically requires APS-C / Super 35 crop
  • Heavier than α7 IV (695 g vs 659 g with battery)
  • Complex menu and feature set

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the K-5 IIs and Alpha 7 V at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

K-5 IIs
Alpha 7 V
Resolution
16.3 MP
33 MP2× more
Sensor type
APS-C CMOS
Full Frame Exmor RS CMOS (partially stacked)
Sensor size
23.7 × 15.7 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
K-5 IIs
Alpha 7 V
Processor
Image processor
BIONZ XR2 + AI processing unit
K-5 IIs
Alpha 7 V
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
51,200+1 stop
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
204,800
K-5 IIs
Alpha 7 V
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, K-5 IIs or Alpha 7 V?

Alpha 7 V scores 7.5/10 versus 3.5/10 for K-5 IIs — 33MP — ample resolution.

What's the resolution difference between the K-5 IIs and Alpha 7 V?

K-5 IIs is 16.3 MP and Alpha 7 V is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 V captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the K-5 IIs and Alpha 7 V have in-body image stabilization?

K-5 IIs has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7 V has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the K-5 IIs or the Alpha 7 V?

K-5 IIs reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 7 V reaches 30 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the K-5 IIs and Alpha 7 V?

K-5 IIs weighs 710 g and Alpha 7 V weighs 695 g, so the Alpha 7 V is 15 g lighter.

Do the K-5 IIs and Alpha 7 V record 4K video?

K-5 IIs: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 V: 4K up to 120p.

Are the K-5 IIs and Alpha 7 V weather sealed?

K-5 IIs: Yes. Alpha 7 V: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the K-5 IIs and 630 shots for the Alpha 7 V, giving the K-5 IIs the edge.

How much does each cost?

K-5 IIs launched at $1,099 and Alpha 7 V at $2,899. The K-5 IIs is $1,800 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way K-5 IIs vs Alpha 7 V vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.

Product images courtesy of Pentax and Sony press materials.