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Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V front
Portability
66
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V Key Specs

Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
Sony HX100V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 27-810mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 577g - 122 x 87 x 93mm
  • Launched October 2011
  • Renewed by Sony HX200V
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Pentax K-3 versus Sony HX100V, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and HX100V (16MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and HX100V (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The K-3 was released 2 years after the HX100V which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX100V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the K-3 grades versus the HX100V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Sony HX100V

 K-3 HX100V 
LaunchedApril 2014October 2011More modern by 31 months
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k921kCrisper display (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX100V over the Pentax K-3

 HX100V K-3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Sony HX100V

 K-3 HX100V 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Pentax K-3 has outside dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Sony HX100V has specifications of 122mm x 87mm x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7") along with a weight of 577 grams (1.27 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-3 versus Sony HX100V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the K-3 compared to the HX100V.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-3 and HX100V is 59 and 66 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The image underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-3 and HX100V.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-3 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax K-3 will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The newer K-3 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography features
Sony HX100V Portrait photography features
79
manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
39
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 Street photography info
Sony HX100V Street photography info
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than average in class (577g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX100V Sports photography highlights
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (560 shots)
49
long zoom range (27-810mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 Travel photography features
Sony HX100V Travel photography features
60
weather sealing
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery power (560 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
54
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (27mm)
great reach (810mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (577 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography information
Sony HX100V Landscape photography information
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
2 card slots
not so great battery power (560 CIPA)
47
focusing manually
relatively wide (27mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-3
Vlogging with Sony HX100V
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
25
relatively wide (27mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (577g)
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX100V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Sony HX100V
 Pentax K-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2014-04-10 2011-10-21
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Prime III BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 6016 x 4000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 27 9
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 27-810mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.6
Available lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3.2" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD monitor XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.70 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 577 gr (1.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 122 x 87 x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1216 not tested
Other
Battery life 560 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-FH50
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 Two One
Pricing at launch $639 $429