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Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V 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
  • Revealed November 2013
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Replaced the Sony HX300
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Below is a detailed comparison of the Pentax K-500 and Sony HX400V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the K-500 (16MP) and the HX400V (20MP) is very close but the K-500 (APS-C) and HX400V (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

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The K-500 was brought out 2 months before the HX400V and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the K-500 scores vs the HX400V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Sony HX400V

 K-500 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Pentax K-500

 HX400V K-500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Sony HX400V

 K-500 HX400V 
ReleasedNovember 2013February 2014Same age
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Display resolution921k921kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax K-500 enjoys outer 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 HX400V has specifications of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-500 and Sony HX400V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the K-500 compared to the HX400V.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-500 and HX400V is 64 and 62 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The graphic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the K-500 and HX400V.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The K-500 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony HX400V will render more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX400V Portrait photography advice
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
51
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-500
Street photography with Sony HX400V
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
50
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography details
Sony HX400V Sports photography details
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Travel photography camera
67
better than average battery power (710 shots)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
53
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (660g)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography information
Sony HX400V Landscape photography information
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
49
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX400V as a Vlogging camera
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone support
29
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic socket
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competitors in class (660g)
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Sony HX400V
 Pentax K-500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-11-27 2014-02-12
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor PRIME M Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 51600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
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 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 646 gr (1.42 lbs) 660 gr (1.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 300 pictures
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $600 $448