Pentax K-30 vs Sony A850
63 Imaging
57 Features
66 Overall
60


54 Imaging
67 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

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.

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.

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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

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 |