Pentax K-500 vs Sony NEX-7

On this page, we will be matching up the Pentax K-500 and Sony NEX-7, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the K-500 (16MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The K-500 was unveiled 24 months later than the NEX-7 which makes them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the K-500 scores against the NEX-7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax K-500 & Sony Alpha NEX-7. The full galleries are provided at Pentax K-500 Gallery & Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-500 has physical measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax K-500 and Sony NEX-7 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the K-500 compared to the NEX-7.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-500 and NEX-7 is 64 and 84 respectively.

Normally, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The visual here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the K-500 and NEX-7.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Sony NEX-7 to render greater detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The newer K-500 provides an edge in sensor innovation.