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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68

Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Pentax K-500 front
 
Sony SLT-A68 front
Portability
64
Imaging
67
Features
70
Overall
68

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 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
  • Announced November 2013
Sony A68
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 610g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Introduced November 2015
  • Replaced the Sony A65
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Pentax K-500 versus Sony A68, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by companies Pentax and Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the K-500 (16MP) and A68 (24MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

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The K-500 was brought out 23 months before the A68 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the K-500 matches up vs the A68 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Sony A68

 K-500 A68 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k461kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A68 over the Pentax K-500

 A68 K-500 
IntroducedNovember 2015November 2013More recent by 23 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Pentax K-500 and Sony A68

 K-500 A68 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-500 has got external 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 A68 has proportions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 610 grams (1.34 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax K-500 versus Sony A68 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the K-500 versus the A68.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the K-500 and A68 is 64 and 64 respectively.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The photograph underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the K-500 and A68.

As you have seen, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Sony A68 to give more detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older K-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A68 as a Portrait photography camera
74
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
80
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-500 Street photography info
Sony A68 Street photography info
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
above average high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
77
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
Sony A68 Sports photography highlights
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
good battery life (710 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (510 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
Sony A68 Travel photography info
67
good battery life (710 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
55
megapixel count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (510 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-500 Landscape photography details
Sony A68 Landscape photography details
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (710 shots)
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
terrible battery pack (510 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-500 Vlogging highlights
Sony A68 Vlogging highlights
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Pentax K-500 vs Sony A68 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-500 and Sony A68
 Pentax K-500Sony SLT-A68
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model Pentax K-500 Sony SLT-A68
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-11-27 2015-11-06
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip PRIME M Bionz X
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 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4928 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 51600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 79
Cross focus points 9 15
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 921k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless Flash off, Auto, Fill-flash, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Rear sync, Wireless, High Speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 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 (60i, 30p, 24p), 1440 x 1080, 640 x 480
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 646 grams (1.42 lbs) 610 grams (1.34 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 79
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 13.1 13.5
DXO Low light score 1087 701
Other
Battery life 710 pictures 510 pictures
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (Yes (2 or 12 sec))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $600 $581