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Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100

Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61
Pentax K-01 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Revealed May 2012
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Older Model is Sony a5000
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Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-01 (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The K-01 was brought out 3 years before the a5100 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a brief overview of how the K-01 matches up against the a5100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Sony a5100

 K-01 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Pentax K-01

 a5100 K-01 
RevealedAugust 2014May 2012Fresher by 26 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k921kCrisper screen (+1k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-01 and Sony a5100

 K-01 a5100 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-01 offers outside dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") having a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the K-01 against the a5100.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-01 and a5100 is 76 and 89 respectively.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through specs. The photograph here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-01 and a5100.

All in all, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony a5100 to render extra detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The older K-01 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-01 Portrait photography highlights
Sony a5100 Portrait photography highlights
74
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
72
manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-01 Street photography information
Sony a5100 Street photography information
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
more heavy than average in class (561g)
82
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
boasts focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Sports photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Sports photography camera
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
lack of phase detect auto focus
68
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery (400 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-01 Travel photography information
Sony a5100 Travel photography information
65
better than average battery life (540 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than average in class (561g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
80
great battery (400 shots)
boasts focus via touch
good MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-01 Landscape photography factors
Sony a5100 Landscape photography factors
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (540 CIPA)
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-01 Vlogging info
Sony a5100 Vlogging info
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than average in class (561g)
34
touchscreen enabled
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external mic port
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Pentax K-01 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-01 and Sony a5100
 Pentax K-01Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-01 Sony Alpha a5100
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-05-30 2014-08-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 179
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Sony E
Number of lenses 151 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 561 gr (1.24 lb) 283 gr (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 80
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.9 12.7
DXO Low light score 1135 1347
Other
Battery life 540 photos 400 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $899 $448