Pentax K-5 vs Sony HX300

Lets take a deeper look at the Pentax K-5 versus Sony HX300, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-5 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is very well matched but the K-5 (APS-C) and HX300 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The K-5 was announced 3 years before the HX300 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the K-5 scores against the HX300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax K-5 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300. The whole galleries are provided at Pentax K-5 Gallery & Sony HX300 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-5 has exterior dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) and the Sony HX300 has specifications of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-5 versus Sony HX300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the K-5 compared to the HX300.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the K-5 and HX300 is 60 and 63 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through technical specs. The picture below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-5 and HX300.

As you can tell, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-5 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX300 will resolve greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged K-5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.