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Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57

Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60
Pentax K-50 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 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
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax K-30
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A55
  • Successor is Sony A58
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Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Pentax K-50 and Sony A57, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-50 (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they feature the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-50 was announced 15 months later than the A57 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the K-50 grades vs the A57 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Sony A57

 K-50 A57 
IntroducedNovember 2013September 2012More recent by 15 months

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Pentax K-50

 A57 K-50 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Pentax K-50 and Sony A57

 K-50 A57 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution921k921kExact same screen resolution
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-50 has got outer measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) while the Sony A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check out the Pentax K-50 and Sony A57 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the K-50 vs the A57.

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-50 and A57 is 63 and 64 respectively.

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The photograph here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-50 and A57.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same resolution so you can expect comparable quality of pictures but you should really factor the launch date of the cameras into account. The more recent K-50 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-50
Portrait photography with Sony A57
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-50
Street photography with Sony A57
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
heavier than competition (650 grams)
75
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-50 Sports photography highlights
Sony A57 Sports photography highlights
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (410 per charge)
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-50
Travel photography with Sony A57
56
environment sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery (410 per charge)
heavier than competition (650g)
display isn't selfie friendly
67
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-50 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A57 Landscape photography highlights
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-50
Vlogging with Sony A57
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic support
heavier than competition (650g)
77
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic support
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Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-50 and Sony A57
 Pentax K-50Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-50 Sony SLT-A57
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-11-27 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME M -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
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 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/6000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 650g (1.43 pounds) 618g (1.36 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 75
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 13.0
DXO Low light rating 1120 785
Other
Battery life 410 photos 550 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI109 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $610 $1,000