Pentax K-01 vs Sony A290

Its time to take a deeper look at the Pentax K-01 vs Sony A290, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The image resolution of the K-01 (16MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The K-01 was released 2 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the K-01 scores vs the A290 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax K-01 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The complete galleries are provided at Pentax K-01 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax K-01 has got external dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") and a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-01 vs Sony A290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the K-01 and the A290.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-01 and A290 is 76 and 66 respectively.

More often than not, it is very difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out specs. The graphic here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the K-01 and A290.

All in all, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Pentax K-01 to provide greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The fresher K-01 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.