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Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390

Portability
60
Imaging
55
Features
82
Overall
65
Pentax K-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Superseded the Pentax K-7
  • Later Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A380
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-5 (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras offer the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-5 was unveiled 5 months after the A390 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the K-5 grades vs the A390 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Sony A390

 K-5 A390 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Pentax K-5

 A390 K-5 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax K-5 and Sony A390

 K-5 A390 
RevealedDecember 2010July 2010Same age
Manually focus Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax K-5 offers outer dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the K-5 vs the A390.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-5 and A390 is 60 and 66 respectively.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by seeing specs. The pic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-5 and A390.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Pentax K-5 to produce more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics way more aggressively.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A390 Portrait photography advice
73
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
72
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
screen is fixed
76
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 Sports photography info
Sony A390 Sports photography info
77
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
not so great battery life (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-5
Travel photography with Sony A390
65
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
53
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (230 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 Landscape photography info
Sony A390 Landscape photography info
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 Vlogging factors
Sony A390 Vlogging factors
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
9
no video recording
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Pentax K-5 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Sony A390
 Pentax K-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-12-18 2010-07-28
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
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 740 gr (1.63 lbs) 549 gr (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 82 66
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.1 11.5
DXO Low light rating 1162 607
Other
Battery life 980 images 230 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $800 $500