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Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
21
Overall
28

Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 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
  • Launched November 2013
Sony TX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 58 x 17mm
  • Released August 2009
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Pentax and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the K-500 (16MP) and TX1 (10MP) and the K-500 (APS-C) and TX1 (1/2.4") provide different sensor sizing.

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The K-500 was manufactured 4 years after the TX1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the K-500 matches up versus the TX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Sony TX1

 K-500 TX1 
ReleasedNovember 2013August 2009More modern by 53 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony TX1 over the Pentax K-500

 TX1 K-500 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Sony TX1

 K-500 TX1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-500 offers outer measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs) while the Sony TX1 has dimensions of 94mm x 58mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the K-500 and the TX1.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the K-500 and TX1 is 64 and 96 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by checking out specs. The pic here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the K-500 and TX1.

All in all, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The K-500 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax K-500 will produce more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more recent K-500 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
Portrait photography with Sony TX1
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 Street photography info
Sony TX1 Street photography info
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography factors
Sony TX1 Sports photography factors
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery pack (710 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,250s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 Travel photography features
Sony TX1 Travel photography features
67
great battery pack (710 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
does not contain selfie friendly screen
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography advice
Sony TX1 Landscape photography advice
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (710 CIPA)
31
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
Sony TX1 Vlogging factors
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone jack
28
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony TX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Sony TX1
 Pentax K-500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Launched 2013-11-27 2009-08-06
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME M Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 372.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 51600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing range - 8cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/1250 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 646g (1.42 lbs) 142g (0.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 94 x 58 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images -
Battery type AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $600 $350