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Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500

Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78
Pentax K-1 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • New Model is Pentax K-1 II
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A6300
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Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the K-1 (36MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the K-1 (Full frame) and A6500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The K-1 was launched 7 months prior to the A6500 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the K-1 grades versus the A6500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Sony A6500

 K-1 A6500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k922kSharper screen (+115k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Pentax K-1

 A6500 K-1 
LaunchedOctober 2016February 2016More recent by 7 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-1 and Sony A6500

 K-1 A6500 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax K-1 offers external 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 A6500 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check out the Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the K-1 compared to the A6500.

Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the K-1 and A6500 is 55 and 81 respectively.

Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements simply by checking specifications. The visual here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the K-1 and A6500.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The K-1 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Pentax K-1 will give greater detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older K-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-1 Portrait photography details
Sony A6500 Portrait photography details
85
manual focus
fantastic MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
80
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-1 Street photography info
Sony A6500 Street photography info
70
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
very good high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than competitors (1,010g)
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
features touch focus
weather sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-1 Sports photography details
Sony A6500 Sports photography details
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic MP (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.4 frames per second)
terrible battery life (760 shots)
77
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Travel photography camera
53
weather proof
fantastic MP (36MP)
terrible battery life (760 shots)
more heavy than competitors (1,010 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
74
weather sealing
has bluetooth
features touch focus
good megapixels (24MP)
built-in flash
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-1 Landscape photography advice
Sony A6500 Landscape photography advice
81
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
terrible battery life (760 CIPA)
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-1 Vlogging features
Sony A6500 Vlogging features
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone port
does not feature selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors (1,010g)
39
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
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Pentax K-1 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-1 and Sony A6500
 Pentax K-1Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-1 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2016-02-17 2016-10-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 36 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 7360 x 4912 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 204800 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 33 425
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sony E
Available lenses 151 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3.2 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.4 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1010g (2.23 lb) 453g (1.00 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 96 85
DXO Color Depth rating 25.4 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.6 13.7
DXO Low light rating 3280 1405
Other
Battery life 760 photos 350 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Two Single
Retail price $1,499 $1,298