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Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500

Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61
Pentax K-01 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Released May 2012
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Replaced the Sony A3000
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Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Pentax K-01 versus Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-01 (16MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is very close and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-01 was brought out 22 months earlier than the a3500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the K-01 matches up vs the a3500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Sony a3500

 K-01 a3500 
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Pentax K-01

 a3500 K-01 
RevealedMarch 2014May 2012More recent by 22 months

Common features in the Pentax K-01 and Sony a3500

 K-01 a3500 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-01 has got external measurements of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") having a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-01 versus Sony a3500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the K-01 and the a3500.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-01 and a3500 is 76 and 69 respectively.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by researching specifications. The graphic below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the K-01 and a3500.

To sum up, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony a3500 to result in more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The older K-01 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Portrait photography camera
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
77
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-01 Street photography info
Sony a3500 Street photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
more heavy than competition in class (561 grams)
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-01
Sports photography with Sony a3500
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery power (540 CIPA)
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
no phase detect AF
60
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery power (470 shots)
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-01 Travel photography information
Sony a3500 Travel photography information
65
better than average battery power (540 CIPA)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than competition in class (561g)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
better than average battery power (470 shots)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (411 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-01 Landscape photography features
Sony a3500 Landscape photography features
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (540 CIPA)
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-01 Vlogging factors
Sony a3500 Vlogging factors
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (561g)
26
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (411g)
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Pentax K-01 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-01 and Sony a3500
 Pentax K-01Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-01 Sony Alpha a3500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-05-30 2014-03-21
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Sony E
Available lenses 151 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 561 grams (1.24 pounds) 411 grams (0.91 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1135 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 shots 470 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $899 $398