Pentax K-5 vs Sony A230

On this page, we are comparing the Pentax K-5 and Sony A230, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the K-5 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The K-5 was announced 20 months after the A230 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the K-5 grades against the A230 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax K-5 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. The whole galleries are provided at Pentax K-5 Gallery and Sony A230 Gallery.

If you are planning to travel with your camera, you should consider its weight and volume. The Pentax K-5 offers exterior dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) while the Sony A230 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-5 and Sony A230 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the K-5 against the A230.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the K-5 and A230 is 60 and 69 respectively.

Generally, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions only by seeing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the K-5 and A230.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Pentax K-5 to produce more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher K-5 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.