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Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 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
  • Launched November 2013
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Introduced May 2009
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 Overview

Lets look closer at the Pentax K-500 versus Sony H20, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the K-500 (16MP) and H20 (10MP) and the K-500 (APS-C) and H20 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The K-500 was announced 4 years after the H20 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the K-500 grades against the H20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Sony H20

 K-500 H20 
IntroducedNovember 2013May 2009More modern by 56 months
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Pentax K-500

 H20 K-500 

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Sony H20

 K-500 H20 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Pentax K-500 comes with 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) whilst the Sony H20 has specifications of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-500 versus Sony H20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the K-500 vs the H20.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the K-500 and H20 is 64 and 87 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes just by researching specs. The picture below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the K-500 and H20.

All in all, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-500 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax K-500 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent K-500 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony H20 as a Portrait photography camera
74
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
27
has manual focus
cannot use external flash
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 Street photography information
Sony H20 Street photography information
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
very good high ISO (51,600)
no moving screen
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than average (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-500
Sports photography with Sony H20
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
good battery life (710 shots)
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H20 as a Travel photography camera
67
good battery life (710 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
very long reach (380mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (250 grams)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography info
Sony H20 Landscape photography info
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (710 shots)
36
has manual focus
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony H20 as a Vlogging camera
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
heavier than average (250g)
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Sony H20
 Pentax K-500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-11-27 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 372.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4928 x 3264 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 51600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 38-380mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-4.4
Macro focusing range - 2cm
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 646 gr (1.42 lbs) 250 gr (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
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 pictures -
Battery style AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $600 $249