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Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
38
Overall
44

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-7
  • Replacement is Pentax K-5 IIs
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2006
  • Superseded the Konica Minolta 5D
  • Successor is Sony A550
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Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Pentax K-5 and Sony A100, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-5 (16MP) and A100 (10MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-5 was unveiled 4 years after the A100 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the K-5 scores versus the A100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Sony A100

 K-5 A100 
IntroducedDecember 2010July 2006Newer by 54 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Pentax K-5

 A100 K-5 

Common features in the Pentax K-5 and Sony A100

 K-5 A100 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-5 enjoys outer dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) whilst the Sony A100 has dimensions of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-5 and Sony A100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the K-5 vs the A100.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-5 and A100 is 60 and 64 respectively.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions only by seeing a spec sheet. The pic below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-5 and A100.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should expect the Pentax K-5 to provide more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent K-5 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A100 Portrait photography advice
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
53
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
MP count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 Street photography highlights
Sony A100 Street photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 Sports photography information
Sony A100 Sports photography information
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-5 Travel photography features
Sony A100 Travel photography features
65
weather sealing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
45
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 Landscape photography features
Sony A100 Landscape photography features
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
53
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 Vlogging advice
Sony A100 Vlogging advice
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
9
no video recording
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Pentax K-5 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Sony A100
 Pentax K-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-12-18 2006-07-31
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 372.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 4928 x 3264 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Highest boosted ISO 51200 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
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 740 gr (1.63 pounds) 638 gr (1.41 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 82 61
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 22.0
DXO Dynamic range score 14.1 11.2
DXO Low light score 1162 476
Other
Battery life 980 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $800 $1,000