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Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100

Portability
60
Imaging
55
Features
69
Overall
60
Pentax K-7 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
38
Overall
44

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 Key Specs

Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Updated by Pentax K-5
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Released July 2006
  • Superseded the Konica Minolta 5D
  • Successor is Sony A550
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Pentax K-7 versus Sony A100, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the K-7 (15MP) and A100 (10MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The K-7 was unveiled 3 years after the A100 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the K-7 grades versus the A100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Sony A100

 K-7 A100 
ReleasedOctober 2009July 2006More modern by 39 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Pentax K-7

 A100 K-7 

Common features in the Pentax K-7 and Sony A100

 K-7 A100 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-7 comes with exterior dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs) whilst the Sony A100 has proportions of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-7 versus Sony A100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the K-7 against the A100.

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-7 and A100 is 60 and 64 respectively.

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes only by checking out specs. The image underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the K-7 and A100.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can count on the Pentax K-7 to show greater detail having an extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs more aggressively. The more modern K-7 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-7 Portrait photography info
Sony A100 Portrait photography info
73
manual focus
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
53
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-7 Street photography factors
Sony A100 Street photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-7
Sports photography with Sony A100
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-7 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A100 as a Travel photography camera
65
environment sealing
good MP (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
45
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-7 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A100 as a Landscape photography camera
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
53
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-7 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A100 as a Vlogging camera
25
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
9
no video
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Pentax K-7 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-7 and Sony A100
 Pentax K-7Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax K-7 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-10-02 2006-07-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Prime II -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4672 x 3104 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 2000 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF2 Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 151 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.5"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT color LCD with AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum 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
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
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 None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 750 grams (1.65 pounds) 638 grams (1.41 pounds)
Physical dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 61 61
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 22.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 11.2
DXO Low light rating 536 476
Other
Battery life 980 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Card slots One One
Retail cost $599 $1,000