Pentax K-5 II vs Sony A99

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Pentax K-5 II and Sony A99, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the K-5 II (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the K-5 II (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) use totally different sensor size.

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The K-5 II was brought out 6 months after the A99 so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise view of how the K-5 II grades versus the A99 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax K-5 II and Sony SLT-A99. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax K-5 II Gallery and Sony A99 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and size. The Pentax K-5 II has got outer dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs) while the Sony A99 has specifications of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-5 II and Sony A99 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the K-5 II against the A99.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the K-5 II and A99 is 60 and 57 respectively.

Usually, it is hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the K-5 II and A99.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-5 II because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A99 will deliver more detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics far more aggressively.