Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850
63 Imaging
57 Features
66 Overall
60
![Pentax K-30 front Pentax K-30 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Pentax-K-30/Pentax-K-30-front.jpg)
![Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A850/Sony-A850-front.jpg)
54 Imaging
68 Features
60 Overall
64
Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
- Launched October 2012
- Later Model is Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
- 25MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
- Released April 2010
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 Overview
Let's look a bit more closely at the Pentax K-30 versus Sony A850, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the K-30 (16MP) and A850 (25MP) and the K-30 (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) have totally different sensor dimensions.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
The K-30 was released 2 years later than the A850 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).
Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the K-30 matches up against the A850 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax K-30 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax K-30 Gallery & Sony A850 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Sony A850
K-30 | A850 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | October 2012 | ![]() | April 2010 | More recent by 31 months |
Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Pentax K-30
A850 | K-30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen resolution | 922k | ![]() | 921k | Clearer screen (+1k dot) |
Common features in the Pentax K-30 and Sony A850
K-30 | A850 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very exact focusing | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same screen sizing |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither contains selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Lack of Touch friendly screen |
Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-30 has got outside measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).
Analyze the Pentax K-30 versus Sony A850 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the K-30 vs the A850.
![Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 size comparison Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Pentax-K-30-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A850-size-comparison.jpg)
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-30 and A850 is 63 and 54 respectively.
![Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Pentax-K-30-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A850-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison
Normally, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the K-30 and A850.
Clearly, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The K-30 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A850 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The fresher K-30 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.
![Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Pentax-K-30-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A850-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder
![Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Pentax-K-30-vs-Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A850-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850 Specifications
Pentax K-30 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Pentax | Sony |
Model | Pentax K-30 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 |
Category | Advanced DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
Launched | 2012-10-29 | 2010-04-15 |
Body design | Mid-size SLR | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Prime M | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | Full frame |
Sensor measurements | 23.7 x 15.7mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
Sensor surface area | 372.1mm² | 861.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 25 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4928 x 3264 | 6048 x 4032 |
Maximum native ISO | 12800 | 3200 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | 25600 | 6400 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 9 |
Cross focus points | 9 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Pentax KAF2 | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Number of lenses | 151 | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 1.5 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of screen | 921 thousand dot | 922 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen tech | TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating | TFT Xtra Fine color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 98% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.61x | 0.74x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Max shutter speed | 1/6000s | 1/8000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 6.0fps | 3.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) | no built-in flash |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/180s | 1/250s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
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 | None |
Video format | MPEG-4, H.264 | - |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | Optional | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 650 grams (1.43 lb) | 895 grams (1.97 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") | 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 79 | 79 |
DXO Color Depth score | 23.7 | 23.8 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 13.0 | 12.2 |
DXO Low light score | 1129 | 1415 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 410 pictures | 880 pictures |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | D-LI109,4 x AA | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo |
Storage slots | Single | Two |
Launch cost | $525 | $0 |