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Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
44
Features
57
Overall
49

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V 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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • New Model is Pentax K-3 II
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced April 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX30V
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Pentax K-3 versus Sony HX50V, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-3 (24MP) and the HX50V (20MP) is very close but the K-3 (APS-C) and HX50V (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The K-3 was revealed 12 months after the HX50V so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX50V being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the K-3 scores against the HX50V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Sony HX50V

 K-3 HX50V 
AnnouncedApril 2014April 2013Newer by 12 months
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k921kClearer display (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Pentax K-3

 HX50V K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Sony HX50V

 K-3 HX50V 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax K-3 comes with outside dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Sony HX50V has sizing of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-3 versus Sony HX50V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the K-3 and the HX50V.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the K-3 and HX50V is 59 and 89 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specs. The picture below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-3 and HX50V.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The K-3 using its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Pentax K-3 will render extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The newer K-3 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX50V Portrait photography factors
79
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
50
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-3
Street photography with Sony HX50V
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
very good ISO range (51,200)
screen is fixed
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (272g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography features
Sony HX50V Sports photography features
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (560 shots)
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery (400 per charge)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Travel photography camera
60
weather proof
good resolution (24MP)
flash built-in
bad battery power (560 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
71
great battery (400 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (272 grams)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX50V Landscape photography highlights
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
bad battery power (560 CIPA)
53
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
great battery (400 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging features
Sony HX50V Vlogging features
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic port
display is not selfie friendly
34
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (272g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Sony HX50V
 Pentax K-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-04-10 2013-04-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Prime III -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6016 x 4000 5184 x 2920
Highest native ISO 51200 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 27 -
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD monitor XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 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, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 pounds) 272 gr (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 1216 not tested
Other
Battery life 560 pictures 400 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Two One
Retail cost $639 $439