Pentax K-1 vs Sony A500

On this page, we are comparing the Pentax K-1 vs Sony A500, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the K-1 (36MP) and A500 (12MP) and the K-1 (Full frame) and A500 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The K-1 was revealed 6 years later than the A500 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the K-1 matches up versus the A500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax K-1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The full galleries are provided at Pentax K-1 Gallery & Sony A500 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-1 enjoys outer dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) while the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-1 vs Sony A500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the K-1 and the A500.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-1 and A500 is 55 and 63 respectively.

Normally, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-1 and A500.

Clearly, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The K-1 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Pentax K-1 will render extra detail because of its extra 24MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images more aggressively. The fresher K-1 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.