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Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
21
Overall
28

Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 Key Specs

Pentax K-3
(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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
Sony TX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 58 x 17mm
  • Released August 2009
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Pentax K-3 versus Sony TX1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and TX1 (10MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and TX1 (1/2.4") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The K-3 was launched 4 years after the TX1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony TX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the K-3 grades versus the TX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Sony TX1

 K-3 TX1 
ReleasedApril 2014August 2009More modern by 57 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony TX1 over the Pentax K-3

 TX1 K-3 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Sony TX1

 K-3 TX1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax K-3 has got exterior 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 TX1 has sizing of 94mm x 58mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-3 versus Sony TX1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the K-3 compared to the TX1.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the K-3 and TX1 is 59 and 96 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by viewing specs. The pic below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-3 and TX1.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The K-3 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax K-3 will render extra detail utilizing its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer K-3 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
Portrait photography with Sony TX1
79
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 Street photography advice
Sony TX1 Street photography advice
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography information
Sony TX1 Sports photography information
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (560 shots)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,250 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 Travel photography details
Sony TX1 Travel photography details
60
environment sealing
MP count good (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery pack (560 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
MP count low (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography advice
Sony TX1 Landscape photography advice
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
low battery pack (560 shots)
31
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony TX1 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
28
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony TX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Sony TX1
 Pentax K-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2014-04-10 2009-08-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6016 x 4000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 51200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 27 9
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focus distance - 8cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1250s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lbs) 142 gr (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 94 x 58 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 -
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Two Single
Launch pricing $639 $350