Pentax K-1 vs Sony A850

Below is a detailed comparison of the Pentax K-1 and Sony A850, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the K-1 (36MP) and A850 (25MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (Full frame).

Photography Glossary

The K-1 was announced 5 years later than the A850 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the K-1 grades versus the A850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax K-1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The whole galleries are provided at Pentax K-1 Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.

If you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-1 has got outside dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) and the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-1 and Sony A850 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the K-1 against the A850.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the K-1 and A850 is 55 and 54 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by looking at specs. The visual below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-1 and A850.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Pentax K-1 to give you more detail with its extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent K-1 provides an edge in sensor technology.