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Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
Sony W560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 Overview

Following is a complete comparison of the Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and W560 (14MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and W560 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The K-3 was unveiled 3 years after the W560 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W560 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the K-3 matches up vs the W560 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Sony W560

 K-3 W560 
ReleasedApril 2014January 2011More modern by 40 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W560 over the Pentax K-3

 W560 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Sony W560

 K-3 W560 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-3 offers outer dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Sony W560 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the K-3 and the W560.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the K-3 and W560 is 59 and 96 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes simply by checking out a spec sheet. The picture here may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-3 and W560.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The K-3 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Pentax K-3 will provide greater detail having an extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more modern K-3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography details
Sony W560 Portrait photography details
79
manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
28
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony W560 as a Street photography camera
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
great ISO range (51,200)
fixed screen
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography factors
Sony W560 Sports photography factors
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (560 per charge)
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-3
Travel photography with Sony W560
60
environment proofing
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery pack (560 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography details
Sony W560 Landscape photography details
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
bad battery pack (560 CIPA)
42
relatively wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging advice
Sony W560 Vlogging advice
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
29
relatively wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony W560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Sony W560
 Pentax K-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2014-04-10 2011-01-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Prime III BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6016 x 4000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 51200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 27 9
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD monitor Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.80 m
Flash settings 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 800g (1.76 lb) 110g (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 NP-BN1
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
Card slots Dual Single
Retail cost $639 $139