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Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300

Portability
60
Imaging
57
Features
83
Overall
67
Pentax K-5 IIs front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Announced January 2008
  • Refreshed by Sony A330
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Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Pentax K-5 IIs and Sony A300, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the K-5 IIs (16MP) and A300 (10MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The K-5 IIs was unveiled 5 years after the A300 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the K-5 IIs matches up versus the A300 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Sony A300

 K-5 IIs A300 
AnnouncedJune 2013January 2008More modern by 66 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 A300 K-5 IIs 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax K-5 IIs and Sony A300

 K-5 IIs A300 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-5 IIs provides exterior measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs) while the Sony A300 has proportions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-5 IIs and Sony A300 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the K-5 IIs vs the A300.

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the K-5 IIs and A300 is 60 and 64 respectively.

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by reviewing technical specs. The image below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-5 IIs and A300.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Pentax K-5 IIs to offer extra detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer K-5 IIs is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography advice
Sony A300 Portrait photography advice
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
Street photography with Sony A300
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs as a Sports photography camera
Sony A300 as a Sports photography camera
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
54
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
Travel photography with Sony A300
65
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
45
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography advice
Sony A300 Landscape photography advice
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
saves RAW files
environment sealing
57
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging highlights
Sony A300 Vlogging highlights
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
9
no video recording
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Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 IIs and Sony A300
 Pentax K-5 IIsSony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-5 IIs Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-06-04 2008-01-30
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Prime II -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 51200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 760 grams (1.68 lbs) 632 grams (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 82 64
DXO Color Depth rating 23.9 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.1 11.4
DXO Low light rating 1208 538
Other
Battery life 980 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 -
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $749 $0