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Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
Sony W650
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 124g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 Overview

Following is a thorough overview of the Pentax K-3 and Sony W650, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and W650 (16MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and W650 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The K-3 was announced 2 years after the W650 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W650 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the K-3 matches up against the W650 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Sony W650

 K-3 W650 
AnnouncedApril 2014January 2012More modern by 28 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Pentax K-3

 W650 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Sony W650

 K-3 W650 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera, you should consider its weight and volume. The Pentax K-3 offers exterior dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Sony W650 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-3 and Sony W650 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the K-3 vs the W650.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-3 and W650 is 59 and 96 respectively.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-3 and W650.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The K-3 using its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax K-3 will provide extra detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more modern K-3 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography details
Sony W650 Portrait photography details
79
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 Street photography highlights
Sony W650 Street photography highlights
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
very good high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (124g)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography advice
Sony W650 Sports photography advice
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery life (560 shots)
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W650 as a Travel photography camera
60
weather sealing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery life (560 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than others (124 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
Landscape photography with Sony W650
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
low battery life (560 CIPA)
43
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging advice
Sony W650 Vlogging advice
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
33
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than others (124g)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
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Pentax K-3 vs Sony W650 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Sony W650
 Pentax K-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-04-10 2012-01-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime III BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6016 x 4000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 51200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 27 -
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 124 gr (0.27 lb)
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 photos 220 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 NP-BN
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual One
Price at launch $639 $140