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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
84
Overall
72
Pentax K-3 II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 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
  • Launched April 2015
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-3
Sony W530
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 113g - 93 x 53 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Pentax K-3 II versus Sony W530, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the K-3 II (24MP) and W530 (14MP) and the K-3 II (APS-C) and W530 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The K-3 II was introduced 4 years after the W530 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W530 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the K-3 II grades vs the W530 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Sony W530

 K-3 II W530 
RevealedApril 2015January 2011Newer by 53 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen size3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W530 over the Pentax K-3 II

 W530 K-3 II 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 II and Sony W530

 K-3 II W530 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Pentax K-3 II has got exterior measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Sony W530 has sizing of 93mm x 53mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

See the Pentax K-3 II versus Sony W530 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the K-3 II versus the W530.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-3 II and W530 is 59 and 96 respectively.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by seeing a spec sheet. The pic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the K-3 II and W530.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The K-3 II using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax K-3 II will produce greater detail using its extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The younger K-3 II is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography info
Sony W530 Portrait photography info
79
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Street photography highlights
Sony W530 Street photography highlights
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
no moving screen
48
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Sports photography advice
Sony W530 Sports photography advice
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (720 shots)
26
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Travel photography info
Sony W530 Travel photography info
56
weather proof
MP count good (24 megapixels)
low battery pack (720 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography details
Sony W530 Landscape photography details
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
low battery pack (720 per charge)
33
rather wide (26mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-3 II
Vlogging with Sony W530
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
26
rather wide (26mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Pentax K-3 II vs Sony W530 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 II and Sony W530
 Pentax K-3 IISony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-3 II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Launched 2015-04-23 2011-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime III BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 6016 x 4000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 27 9
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 8.3 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 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, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 113 gr (0.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 93 x 53 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 1106 not tested
Other
Battery life 720 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual Single
Launch price $829 $269