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Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550

Portability
55
Imaging
74
Features
82
Overall
77
Pentax K-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
28
Overall
32

Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 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
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-1 II
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Pentax K-1 versus Sony W550, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the K-1 (36MP) and W550 (14MP) and the K-1 (Full frame) and W550 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The K-1 was launched 4 years after the W550 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise overview of how the K-1 scores versus the W550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Sony W550

 K-1 W550 
IntroducedFebruary 2016July 2011Newer by 56 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Pentax K-1

 W550 K-1 

Common features in the Pentax K-1 and Sony W550

 K-1 W550 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax K-1 features external dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) while the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-1 versus Sony W550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the K-1 versus the W550.

Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the K-1 and W550 is 55 and 96 respectively.

Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions just by reviewing specs. The pic underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-1 and W550.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The K-1 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Pentax K-1 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 22 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The younger K-1 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-1 Portrait photography factors
Sony W550 Portrait photography factors
84
you can focus manually
megapixel count high (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
28
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-1 Street photography factors
Sony W550 Street photography factors
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
great ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than others (1,010g)
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
75
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count high (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 fps)
bad battery life (760 per charge)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-1
Travel photography with Sony W550
52
weather proofing
megapixel count high (36 megapixels)
bad battery life (760 CIPA)
more heavy than others (1,010 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
65
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-1 Landscape photography info
Sony W550 Landscape photography info
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count high (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
bad battery life (760 per charge)
42
quite wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-1
Vlogging with Sony W550
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone support
does not posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than others (1,010g)
29
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Pentax K-1 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-1 and Sony W550
 Pentax K-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2016-02-17 2011-07-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 36 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 7360 x 4912 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 204800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 33 9
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 4.4 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.80 m
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 Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1010g (2.23 lb) 110g (0.24 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 96 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 25.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 3280 not tested
Other
Battery life 760 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Two -
Price at launch $1,499 $119