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Pentax 645D vs Sony A500

Portability
50
Imaging
74
Features
52
Overall
65
Pentax 645D front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
51
Features
52
Overall
51

Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Announced March 2010
  • Replacement is Pentax 645Z
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Updated by Sony A560
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Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Pentax 645D vs Sony A500, former being a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the 645D (40MP) and A500 (12MP) and the 645D (Medium format) and A500 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The 645D was introduced 7 months later than the A500 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the 645D grades vs the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Sony A500

 645D A500 
RevealedMarch 2010August 2009Fresher by 7 months
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Pentax 645D

 A500 645D 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax 645D and Sony A500

 645D A500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax 645D provides outside dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") along with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs) while the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the 645D against the A500.

Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the 645D and A500 is 50 and 63 respectively.

Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing simply by researching specs. The graphic here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the 645D and A500.

All in all, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 645D using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax 645D will result in extra detail using its extra 28MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The newer 645D is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax 645D Portrait photography info
Sony A500 Portrait photography info
76
focusing manually
high megapixels (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW files
no liveview
62
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax 645D as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
58
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax 645D Sports photography information
Sony A500 Sports photography information
62
high megapixels (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
no liveview
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (800 CIPA)
50
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax 645D
Travel photography with Sony A500
54
weather proof
high megapixels (40MP)
bad battery pack (800 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
43
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery life (520 shots)
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax 645D as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
72
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
high megapixels (40MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
no anti-alias filter
supports RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (800 CIPA)
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (520 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax 645D Vlogging advice
Sony A500 Vlogging advice
9
can't shoot video
9
can't record video
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Pentax 645D vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax 645D and Sony A500
 Pentax 645DSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax 645D Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Pro DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-03-10 2009-08-27
Body design Large SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Prime II Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Medium format APS-C
Sensor dimensions 44 x 33mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 1,452.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 40MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 7264 x 5440 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax 645AF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 6 143
Focal length multiplier 0.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.85x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/125 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1480g (3.26 lb) 630g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 82 64
DXO Color Depth score 24.6 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 11.6
DXO Low light score 1262 772
Other
Battery life 800 shots 520 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Two One
Retail cost $4,000 $638