Pentax K-3 vs Sony A580

Below is a extended analysis of the Pentax K-3 vs Sony A580, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Pentax and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and A580 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-3 was unveiled 2 years later than the A580 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the K-3 grades vs the A580 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax K-3 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The full galleries are viewable at Pentax K-3 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-3 has external dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-3 vs Sony A580 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the K-3 compared to the A580.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 and A580 is 59 and 64 respectively.

Usually, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-3 and A580.

Clearly, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Pentax K-3 to result in extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent K-3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.