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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 II front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
53
Features
65
Overall
57

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-3
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A100
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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the K-3 II (24MP) and A550 (14MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The K-3 II was launched 5 years later than the A550 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the K-3 II scores vs the A550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Sony A550

 K-3 II A550 
ReleasedApril 2015December 2009Fresher by 66 months
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k922kClearer display (+115k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Pentax K-3 II

 A550 K-3 II 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax K-3 II and Sony A550

 K-3 II A550 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-3 II enjoys outside dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the K-3 II versus the A550.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 II and A550 is 59 and 63 respectively.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-3 II and A550.

All in all, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can anticipate the Pentax K-3 II to result in more detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The more recent K-3 II should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography factors
Sony A550 Portrait photography factors
79
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Street photography details
Sony A550 Street photography details
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
great ISO range (51,200)
no moving screen
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Sports photography advice
Sony A550 Sports photography advice
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (720 CIPA)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery (480 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 II as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
56
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (24MP)
not so great battery life (720 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
51
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery (480 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography information
Sony A550 Landscape photography information
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
not so great battery life (720 per charge)
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (480 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 II as a Vlogging camera
Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone support
does not posses selfie friendly screen
9
lack of video recording
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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 II and Sony A550
 Pentax K-3 IISony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-3 II Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2015-04-23 2009-12-09
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Prime III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6016 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 51200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 27 9
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.3fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings 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 (available with dedicated external flash) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
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, 30p, 25p, 24p) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 lbs) 632 grams (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 66
DXO Color Depth rating 23.6 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 11.8
DXO Low light rating 1106 807
Other
Battery life 720 photographs 480 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two 1
Launch pricing $829 $749