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Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Samsung ST600 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
Samsung ST600
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 4800 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 27-135mm (F3.3-5.5) lens
  • 150g - 104 x 60 x 20mm
  • Introduced January 2010
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Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Pentax K-500 and Samsung ST600, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Pentax and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the ST600 (14MP) is pretty close but the K-500 (APS-C) and ST600 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The K-500 was launched 3 years later than the ST600 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Samsung ST600 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the K-500 matches up against the ST600 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Samsung ST600

 K-500 ST600 
IntroducedNovember 2013January 2010Fresher by 48 months
Focus manually More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Samsung ST600 over the Pentax K-500

 ST600 K-500 
Screen size3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1152k921kCrisper screen (+231k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Samsung ST600

 K-500 ST600 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-500 enjoys outer dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) and the Samsung ST600 has measurements of 104mm x 60mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-500 and Samsung ST600 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the K-500 and the ST600.

Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-500 and ST600 is 64 and 95 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching specs. The graphic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-500 and ST600.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The K-500 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax K-500 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The newer K-500 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
Portrait photography with Samsung ST600
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
30
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-500
Street photography with Samsung ST600
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch focus
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than others in class (150g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung ST600 as a Sports photography camera
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
good battery power (710 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-500
Travel photography with Samsung ST600
67
good battery power (710 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
offers touch focus
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (27mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (150 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography information
Samsung ST600 Landscape photography information
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW files
good battery power (710 shots)
44
relatively wide (27mm)
very good size screen (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung ST600 as a Vlogging camera
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support
30
relatively wide (27mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than others in class (150g)
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Pentax K-500 vs Samsung ST600 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Samsung ST600
 Pentax K-500Samsung ST600
General Information
Brand Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax K-500 Samsung ST600
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2013-11-27 2010-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by PRIME M -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 51600 4800
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 27-135mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3.5 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 1,152 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 646 gr (1.42 pounds) 150 gr (0.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 104 x 60 x 20mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 1087 not tested
Other
Battery life 710 photos -
Battery format AA -
Battery model 4 x AA SLB07
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC MicroSD/ MicroSDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $600 $330