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Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II

Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61
Pentax K-30 front
 
Sony Alpha A99 II front
Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II Key Specs

Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase 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
  • Replacement is Pentax K-50
Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A99
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Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II Overview

Lets look more closely at the Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the K-30 (16MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the K-30 (APS-C) and A99 II (Full frame) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The K-30 was unveiled 4 years prior to the A99 II and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the K-30 matches up against the A99 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Sony A99 II

 K-30 A99 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Pentax K-30

 A99 II K-30 
RevealedSeptember 2016October 2012More recent by 47 months
Display typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k921kSharper display (+308k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Sony A99 II

 K-30 A99 II 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Pentax K-30 comes with physical dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 II has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") with a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the K-30 vs the A99 II.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-30 and A99 II is 63 and 57 respectively.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-30 and A99 II.

Clearly, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The K-30 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A99 II will offer greater detail having an extra 26MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older K-30 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II sensor size comparison

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-30 Portrait photography factors
Sony A99 II Portrait photography factors
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
86
focusing manually
megapixel count excellent (42 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Street photography camera
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
no moving screen
76
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-30
Sports photography with Sony A99 II
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
82
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count excellent (42MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (490 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-30 Travel photography info
Sony A99 II Travel photography info
60
weather proofing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery life (410 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
70
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
megapixel count excellent (42 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
low battery life (490 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
Landscape photography with Sony A99 II
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
82
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count excellent (42MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
low battery life (490 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-30 Vlogging details
Sony A99 II Vlogging details
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
78
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
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Pentax K-30 vs Sony A99 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-30 and Sony A99 II
 Pentax K-30Sony Alpha A99 II
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-30 Sony Alpha A99 II
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-10-29 2016-09-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Prime M Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 42MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 7952 x 5304
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 102400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 399
Cross type focus points 9 79
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 650 gr (1.43 pounds) 849 gr (1.87 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 92
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 13.4
DXO Low light rating 1129 2317
Other
Battery life 410 photos 490 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery ID D-LI109,4 x AA -
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Storage slots 1 Two
Pricing at release $525 $3,198