Pentax K-500 vs Pentax K20D

In this article, we are reviewing the Pentax K-500 and Pentax K20D, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR and they are both produced by Pentax. The sensor resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the K20D (15MP) is fairly close and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The K-500 was announced 5 years later than the K20D and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the K-500 matches up versus the K20D with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax K-500 & Pentax K20D. The whole galleries are viewable at Pentax K-500 Gallery & Pentax K20D Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax K-500 features outer dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) whilst the Pentax K20D has sizing of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-500 and Pentax K20D in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the K-500 compared to the K20D.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the K-500 and K20D is 64 and 59 respectively.

Often, it is very hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The visual below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the K-500 and K20D.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Pentax K-500 to render greater detail with its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer K-500 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.