Pentax K-3 vs Sony A290

In this article, we are contrasting the Pentax K-3 and Sony A290, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and A290 (14MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The K-3 was manufactured 3 years later than the A290 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the K-3 matches up versus the A290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax K-3 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax K-3 Gallery and Sony A290 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-3 features outside dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Sony A290 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-3 and Sony A290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the K-3 compared to the A290.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-3 and A290 is 59 and 66 respectively.

More often than not, its hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-3 and A290.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should anticipate the Pentax K-3 to render extra detail due to its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The more modern K-3 should have a benefit in sensor technology.