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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(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
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released March 2009
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact and both are manufactured by Pentax. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the K-500 (16MP) and P70 (12MP) and the K-500 (APS-C) and P70 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The K-500 was launched 4 years after the P70 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the K-500 grades vs the P70 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Pentax P70

 K-500 P70 
ReleasedNovember 2013March 2009Newer by 58 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Pentax K-500

 P70 K-500 

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Pentax P70

 K-500 P70 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera often, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-500 features external measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) and the Pentax P70 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the K-500 compared to the P70.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the K-500 and P70 is 64 and 95 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the gap between sensor dimensions merely by looking at a spec sheet. The image underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the K-500 and P70.

Clearly, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The K-500 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Pentax K-500 will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more recent K-500 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
Portrait photography with Pentax P70
74
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
27
focusing manually
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Street photography camera
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competition (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography info
Pentax P70 Sports photography info
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
good battery pack (710 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (6.0 frames per second)
17
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 Travel photography factors
Pentax P70 Travel photography factors
67
good battery pack (710 shots)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (155 grams)
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax P70 Landscape photography highlights
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (710 CIPA)
32
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 Vlogging info
Pentax P70 Vlogging info
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
25
decently wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
heavier than competition (155g)
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Pentax K-500 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Pentax P70
 Pentax K-500Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-500 Pentax Optio P70
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2013-11-27 2009-03-02
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip PRIME M -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 51600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Total lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 646 grams (1.42 lb) 155 grams (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1087 not tested
Other
Battery life 710 images -
Battery format AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $600 $200