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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III

Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Sony Alpha A7R III front
Portability
63
Imaging
77
Features
93
Overall
83

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III Key Specs

Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
Sony A7R III
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Push to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 657g - 127 x 96 x 74mm
  • Revealed October 2017
  • Replaced the Sony A7R II
  • Newer Model is Sony A7R IV
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-500 (16MP) and A7R III (42MP) and the K-500 (APS-C) and A7R III (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The K-500 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the A7R III which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A7R III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a concise overview of how the K-500 scores versus the A7R III in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Sony A7R III

 K-500 A7R III 

Reasons to pick Sony A7R III over the Pentax K-500

 A7R III K-500 
RevealedOctober 2017November 2013Newer by 47 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k921kClearer screen (+519k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Sony A7R III

 K-500 A7R III 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-500 features outside measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) whilst the Sony A7R III has measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 657 grams (1.45 lbs).

Compare the Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the K-500 and the A7R III.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the K-500 and A7R III is 64 and 63 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by checking out specs. The image below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-500 and A7R III.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The K-500 having a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony A7R III will provide extra detail having an extra 26MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged K-500 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
Portrait photography with Sony A7R III
74
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
86
has manual focus
MP count fantastic (42MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 Street photography features
Sony A7R III Street photography features
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
79
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
offers touch focus
weather proof
great high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography features
Sony A7R III Sports photography features
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery pack (710 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
88
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count fantastic (42MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
weather proof
good battery pack (650 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-500
Travel photography with Sony A7R III
67
great battery pack (710 CIPA)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
73
good battery pack (650 shots)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
offers touch focus
MP count fantastic (42 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A7R III Landscape photography highlights
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (710 shots)
87
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count fantastic (42MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (32,000)
supports RAW files
weather proof
good battery pack (650 per charge)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-500
Vlogging with Sony A7R III
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A7R III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Sony A7R III
 Pentax K-500Sony Alpha A7R III
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-500 Sony Alpha A7R III
Type Entry-Level DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-11-27 2017-10-25
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor PRIME M Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 42MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 7952 x 5304
Highest native ISO 51600 32000
Highest enhanced ISO - 102400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 425
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Sony E
Available lenses 151 121
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Off, Auto, Fill-flash, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 646g (1.42 lb) 657g (1.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 127 x 96 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 100
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 26.0
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 14.7
DXO Low light score 1087 3523
Other
Battery life 710 shots 650 shots
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Two SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II support on one)
Card slots 1 Two
Pricing at release $600 $2,800