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Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300

Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61
Pentax K-01 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Released May 2012
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced January 2008
  • Successor is Sony A330
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Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Pentax K-01 versus Sony A300, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the K-01 (16MP) and A300 (10MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-01 was revealed 4 years later than the A300 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the K-01 grades versus the A300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Sony A300

 K-01 A300 
IntroducedMay 2012January 2008Fresher by 53 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Pentax K-01

 A300 K-01 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax K-01 and Sony A300

 K-01 A300 
Manual focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-01 has outer dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") along with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) while the Sony A300 has measurements of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-01 versus Sony A300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the K-01 and the A300.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the K-01 and A300 is 76 and 64 respectively.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking specifications. The photograph underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the K-01 and A300.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can count on the Pentax K-01 to give you greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent K-01 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-01 Portrait photography advice
Sony A300 Portrait photography advice
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
59
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-01
Street photography with Sony A300
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
more heavy than competition in class (561 grams)
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A300 as a Sports photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery pack (540 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
lack of phase detect auto focus
54
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-01 Travel photography info
Sony A300 Travel photography info
65
great battery pack (540 shots)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than competition in class (561g)
screen is not selfie friendly
45
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A300 as a Landscape photography camera
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (540 per charge)
57
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A300 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone port
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (561 grams)
9
lack of video recording
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Pentax K-01 vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-01 and Sony A300
 Pentax K-01Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-01 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-05-30 2008-01-30
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 561g (1.24 pounds) 632g (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 64
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.9 11.4
DXO Low light rating 1135 538
Other
Battery life 540 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $899 $0