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Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37

Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60
Pentax K-50 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 Key Specs

Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-30
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed May 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A35
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Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Pentax K-50 and Sony A37, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-50 (16MP) and the A37 (16MP) is relatively close and they come with the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The K-50 was launched 19 months after the A37 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the K-50 matches up versus the A37 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Sony A37

 K-50 A37 
RevealedNovember 2013May 2012Newer by 19 months
Screen dimension3"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.4")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Pentax K-50

 A37 K-50 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax K-50 and Sony A37

 K-50 A37 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-50 has physical measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) whilst the Sony A37 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Look at the Pentax K-50 and Sony A37 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the K-50 against the A37.

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-50 and A37 is 63 and 67 respectively.

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by looking through technical specs. The picture below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the K-50 and A37.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same megapixels therefore you should expect comparable quality of pictures though you will need to consider the release date of the cameras into account. The more modern K-50 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-50 Portrait photography advice
Sony A37 Portrait photography advice
74
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
74
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-50 as a Street photography camera
Sony A37 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
good ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
heavier than competitors (650g)
77
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-50 Sports photography features
Sony A37 Sports photography features
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-50
Travel photography with Sony A37
56
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
heavier than competitors (650 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
54
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (500 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-50 Landscape photography advice
Sony A37 Landscape photography advice
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
terrible battery power (410 shots)
64
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.6 inches)
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-50 Vlogging features
Sony A37 Vlogging features
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
heavier than competitors (650g)
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-50 and Sony A37
 Pentax K-50Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-50 Sony SLT-A37
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-11-27 2012-05-16
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor PRIME M -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 51600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 2.6"
Display resolution 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 650 grams (1.43 pounds) 506 grams (1.12 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 75
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 12.9
DXO Low light rating 1120 799
Other
Battery life 410 photographs 500 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI109 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $610 $522