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Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9

Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60
Pentax K-30 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed October 2012
  • Successor is Pentax K-50
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • Replacement is Sony A9 II
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Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Pentax K-30 versus Sony A9, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the K-30 (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the K-30 (APS-C) and A9 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The K-30 was brought out 5 years earlier than the A9 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the K-30 grades against the A9 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Sony A9

 K-30 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Pentax K-30

 A9 K-30 
AnnouncedApril 2017October 2012More recent by 54 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k921kCrisper display (+519k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Sony A9

 K-30 A9 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-30 enjoys outer dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") and a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-30 versus Sony A9 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the K-30 and the A9.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the K-30 and A9 is 63 and 65 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The visual here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-30 and A9.

Plainly, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The K-30 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A9 will render greater detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics more aggressively. The older K-30 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A9 Portrait photography highlights
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
83
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-30
Street photography with Sony A9
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
weather proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-30 Sports photography features
Sony A9 Sports photography features
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
86
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
high frames per second (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery life (650 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography factors
Sony A9 Travel photography factors
60
environment proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
73
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
weather proof
supports bluetooth
offers focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-30 Landscape photography advice
Sony A9 Landscape photography advice
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
85
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 Vlogging info
Sony A9 Vlogging info
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone port
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Pentax K-30 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Sony A9
 Pentax K-30Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-30 Sony Alpha A9
Type Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-10-29 2017-04-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime M BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 693
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Sony E
Total lenses 151 121
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/8000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 650 gr (1.43 lbs) 673 gr (1.48 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 92
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 13.3
DXO Low light rating 1129 3517
Other
Battery life 410 pictures 650 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI109,4 x AA NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single 2
Launch price $525 $4,498