Pentax K-500 vs Sony A560
64 Imaging
58 Features
70 Overall
62
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64 Imaging
54 Features
78 Overall
63
Pentax K-500 vs Sony A560 Key Specs
(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
- Released November 2013
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
- Revealed August 2010
- Superseded the Sony A500
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A560 Overview
Lets look more closely at the Pentax K-500 and Sony A560, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the A560 (14MP) is very similar and they feature the same exact sensor size (APS-C).
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The K-500 was brought out 3 years after the A560 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).
Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the K-500 scores against the A560 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A560 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax K-500 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A560. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax K-500 Gallery & Sony A560 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Sony A560
K-500 | A560 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | November 2013 | ![]() | August 2010 | Newer by 40 months |
Reasons to pick Sony A560 over the Pentax K-500
A560 | K-500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 922k | ![]() | 921k | Crisper display (+1k dot) |
Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Sony A560
K-500 | A560 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Very precise focusing | ||
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent display size |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch friendly display |
Pentax K-500 vs Sony A560 Physical Comparison
If you're looking to travel with your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-500 comes with external dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) whilst the Sony A560 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).
Check the Pentax K-500 and Sony A560 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the K-500 and the A560.
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Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the K-500 and A560 is 64 and 64 respectively.
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A560 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over a spec sheet. The picture below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-500 and A560.
Clearly, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Pentax K-500 to offer more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer K-500 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A560 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A560 Specifications
Pentax K-500 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Pentax | Sony |
Model type | Pentax K-500 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 |
Type | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
Released | 2013-11-27 | 2010-08-24 |
Physical type | Compact SLR | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | PRIME M | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 23.7 x 15.7mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 372.1mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 14MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4928 x 3264 | 4592 x 3056 |
Max native ISO | 51600 | 12800 |
Max boosted ISO | - | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
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 |
Focal length multiplier | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display sizing | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 921k dots | 922k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display tech | TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.61x | 0.53x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/6000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shooting rate | 6.0 frames per sec | 5.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) | 12.00 m |
Flash options | 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 |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/180s | 1/160s |
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) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Microphone 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 | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 646 grams (1.42 lbs) | 599 grams (1.32 lbs) |
Dimensions | 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") | 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 79 | 70 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 23.7 | 22.5 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 13.1 | 12.3 |
DXO Low light rating | 1087 | 817 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 710 shots | 1050 shots |
Battery style | AA | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | 4 x AA | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | Single | Two |
Retail pricing | $600 | $650 |