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Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900

Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66
Pentax K-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 Key Specs

Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released December 2010
  • Older Model is Pentax K-7
  • New Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Renewed by Sony A99
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Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the K-5 (16MP) and A900 (25MP) and the K-5 (APS-C) and A900 (Full frame) feature totally different sensor size.

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The K-5 was released 2 years later than the A900 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the K-5 scores vs the A900 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Sony A900

 K-5 A900 
LaunchedDecember 2010October 2008More recent by 27 months

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Pentax K-5

 A900 K-5 
Screen resolution922k921kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Pentax K-5 and Sony A900

 K-5 A900 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-5 provides outside dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) whilst the Sony A900 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the K-5 against the A900.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the K-5 and A900 is 60 and 54 respectively.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The graphic here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the K-5 and A900.

Plainly, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The K-5 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A900 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer K-5 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A900 Portrait photography advice
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
71
focusing manually
MP count great (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 Street photography information
Sony A900 Street photography information
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 Sports photography info
Sony A900 Sports photography info
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-5 Travel photography advice
Sony A900 Travel photography advice
65
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
54
environment proofing
MP count great (25 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 Landscape photography features
Sony A900 Landscape photography features
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
72
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-5
Vlogging with Sony A900
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
9
no video shooting
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Pentax K-5 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 and Sony A900
 Pentax K-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-12-18 2008-10-22
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 25MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max boosted ISO 51200 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 921k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT LCD monitor TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 740 grams (1.63 lbs) 895 grams (1.97 lbs)
Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 82 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.1 12.3
DXO Low light rating 1162 1431
Other
Battery life 980 photographs 880 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail cost $800 $2,736